Energy Training for Agriculture Professionals

 

 

Julian Barham
Barham Farms
Zebulon, NC.
julbar03@aol.com
After earning an engineering degree from North Carolina State University, Julian Barham decided in 1980 that he wanted to work full time as a farmer. Julian and his wife Elaine live and work on their family farm in Zebulon, NC. The swine production facility at Barham Farms features an electricity-generating methane recovery system. The Barhams grow greenhouse vegetables depending on the season, specializing in heirloom tomatoes. In addition, they grow field crops such as wheat, coastal burmuda hay, beans, and orchard grass for their horses. Since 2005, Barham's Recycling Center has taken wood debris from local companies and grinds it into usable wood chips or yard mulch. Among many other honors, Julian won the 1999 "River Friendly Farmer Award" from the Soil Conservation Service. In 2001, Julian was named Progressive Farmer's "Man of the Year." Julian firmly believes in the motto "Waste nothing. Everything is useful."

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John Bonitz
Farm Outreach and Policy Advocacy, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Pittsboro, NC
bonitz@cleanenergy.org
As the son of a dairy farmer, John's interest in agriculture, forestry, and the environment runs deep. John's environmental profession began at his alma mater, UNC Greensboro, where he built an award winning recycling program. During graduate studies in climate change policy, John worked at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) analyzing cost-effective renewable energy technologies. He has been with SACE since 2007, helping farmers and woodland owners learn the economic opportunities in a clean energy future

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Rachel Burton
Co-founder and Research & Analytics Director, Piedmont Biofuels
Pittsboro, NC
wrenchwench@blast.com
Rachel's foray into biofuels began at Central Carolina Community College, where she ran the Automotive Program. As an automotive instructor, Burton started a biofuels continuing education course. This course evolved into the first associate degree program in biofuels technology in the NC. Now she manages the research and quality control operations including the BQ-9000 accreditation program. She is a hands-on manager who has spent her entire professional career involved with combustion engines, community involvement, and sustainability.

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Caleb Daniels
Piedmont Biofuels
Pittsboro, NC
caleb@biofuels.coop
Caleb took interest in environmental problems at a young age, starting with water quality testing and volunteering with groups to protect streams and rivers in north Georgia. He started his career in community organizing, running campaign offices in Atlanta and Chapel Hill to help pass environmental and social justice legislation. Caleb followed his passion for renewable energy and community-based solutions to begin working with biodiesel at Piedmont Biofuels. His largest passion is in the southern environmental movement and looking to waste resources within a community to create sustainable fuel and energy.

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Bob Gilbert
Efficient Lighting Specialist, Efficiency 1st
Raleigh, NC
bgilbert@earthlink.net
Bob Gilbert has installed approximately $100 million in energy efficient lighting projects since 1986. These projects have included Andrews Air Force Base, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the White House, the World Bank, Baltimore County Schools, the New Jersey Transit Authority, Rutgers University, retail chains, casinos, warehouses, and just about anything else you can think of. "I like to say we are the Marines of Energy Efficiency. Getting it done in the trenches every day for over twenty years."

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Vern Grubinger
University of Vermont Extension and Northeast SARE
Brattleboro, VT
vernon.grubinger@uvm.edu
Vern Grubinger is the vegetable and berry specialist for University of Vermont Extension, and coordinator of the USDA's Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE). He also serves as project leader for the fledgling eXtension Farm Energy community of practice.

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Alex Hobbs
Associate Director for Renewable Technologies, North Carolina Solar Center
Raleigh, NC
aohobbs@ncsu.edu
Dr. Alex Hobbs, P.E., is currently the Associate Director for Renewable Technologies at the North Carolina Solar Center, an outreach component of NC State University's College of Engineering. Dr. Hobbs has more than 35 years of experience in the areas of electric power generation and delivery, water and wastewater treatment, as well as production agriculture and food processing. He has worked as a design/startup engineer and as project manager on internal combustion turbine generator, coal and oil fired boiler, and light water nuclear plant projects. As an in-house technology consultant and researcher for a major southeastern utility, Dr. Hobbs led applied research and development programs to evaluate advanced power production techniques, development and combustion of biomass based renewable fuel resources, new environmental assessment and remediation technologies and innovative load management equipment and strategies.

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Leif Kindberg, ENTAP Team
National Center for Appropriate Technology
Fayetteville, AR
leifk@ncat.org
Leif is a Farm Energy Specialist in NCAT's Southeast regional office in Fayetteville Arkansas. He works with farmers and the public on a variety of projects including climate change, biomass, biopower, wind, energy efficiency, and energy conservation on farms. Before joining NCAT Leif worked with the Pew Center on Global Climate Change where he was responsible for development and coordination of a national program on energy efficiency and climate change. Leif has a MBA focusing on Environmental Management and Policy and BA in Political Science. He was born and raised on a certified organic farm in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.

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Erik Lensch
Owner, Innovative Solar Solutions, Inc.; President, Argand Energy Solutions, LLC
Charlotte, NC
erik.lensch@argandenergy.com
As Owner of Innovative Solar Solutions, a solar equipment supply company, Erik is responsible for the oversight, coordination and the financial aspects of the business. He is also President of Argand Energy Solutions, one of the largest solar design and installation companies in the Carolinas.

He graduated from Radford University in 1992 with a BA in Marketing. He completed the Renewable Energy Technologies: Photovoltaic Track at NC State University, Solar Energy International Developing World training, and is a certified SMA installer. Erik enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, reading, hiking, kayaking and of course, everything solar!

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Carol Moore
Program Coordinator, North Carolina Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NC SARE)
Goldsboro, NC
carol.moore@bellsouth.net
Carol is our administrative details and food person. She has been working with North Carolina Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NC SARE) as the program coordinator for the past three years. In another life she was a nurse, herbalist and nutritionist. She, and her husband, Steve, have 5 children and have farmed and gardened for over 30 years. With her husband, Carol co-founded Harmony Essentials, a small business dedicated to sustainable food systems.

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Steve Moore, ENTAP Co-Chair
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
Goldsboro, NC
steve_moore@ncsu.edu
Steve and family have farmed and gardened organically for over 35 years. He has a diversified farm background including small fruits, vegetables, bees, dairy cows, other livestock and work horses. Steve has also been a pioneer in greenhouse and high tunnel production for over 15 years. He is a certified Grow Biointensive teacher and is design certified in permaculture. He was the past Director of the Center for Sustainable Living Wilson College (Chambersburg, PA), founder of the Robyn Van En Center for CSA Resources and Co-founder (with wife, Carol) of Harmony Essentials.

Steve has served on the Pennsylvania Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Board, as a member of the Board of Directors for PASA (Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture) and presently serves on the Board of Directors for Ecology Action (BioIntensive Agriculture), Willits, CA. He has done extensive consulting and provides presentations and workshops worldwide. Currently, Steve works for NC State University at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS), Goldsboro, NC. He is also part of the national eXtension team to develop content for energy. He is also an associate editor of the peer review journal, Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems (formerly the American journal of Sustainable Agriculture).

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Mike Morris, ENTAP Co-Chair
National Center for Appropriate Technology
Durham, NC
mikem@ncat.org
For the past ten years, Mike has been working with farms, ranches, and rural communities on more efficient and sustainable ways of using energy and water. He has organized renewable energy demonstration projects, conducted energy studies, managed an energy conservation program for Montana irrigators, and written on controversies surrounding biofuels. At NCAT, Mike works on building the energy-related capacity of ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (www.attra.ncat.org). His recent publications include The California Microirrigation Pocket Guide, "Farm Energy Audits: Availability, Usefulness, and Cost," "Ethanol Opportunities and Questions," "Biodiesel: the Sustainability Dimensions," "Measuring and Conserving Irrigation Water," and "Soil Moisture Monitoring: Low-Cost Tools and Methods." Mike has a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh.

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Simon Rich
Farmer and Private Investor
Edenton, NC
srich@duke.edu
Simon Rich is active in bringing the message of sustainability to our food and energy sectors through his strategic direction, investments and operational experience. He is CEO of Fuqua Rich Weeks, LLC a private equity partnership focused in the energy and agriculture sectors. Formerly he was Chairman and CEO of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas and President of Louis Dreyfus Holding Corp; the Louis Dreyfus Group holds a global position in all areas of energy and agriculture including production, processing and merchandising.

Mr. Rich is former chairman and emeritus member of the board of visitors of the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University and teaches courses in Energy and Environment within the school. He is chairman of Environmental Defense Fund in North Carolina, chairman of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, the largest sustainable agriculture program in the US operating from NC State University. Mr. Rich is on the board of Triangle Capital Corporation, NSDQ symbol TCAP, a business development company operating throughout the southeast; Verenium , NSDQ symbol VRNM, a cellulosic ethanol developer and enzyme production company. He is a member of Cherokee Investment Fund's Sustainability Advisory Board, Cherokee is the largest "brownfield" developer in the world. He was recently appointed by Governor Perdue to serve on the Economic Development Board of NC. Mr. Rich is a 1967 graduate of Duke University, he and his wife Nancy have 5 grown children and 2 grandchildren and live in Edenton NC. on their solar powered farm where they raise organic grass fed cattle sold under the Jubilee Farm label www.jubileebeef.com

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Dennis Scanlin
Professor, Department of Technology, Appalachian State University
Boone, NC
scanlindm@appstate.edu
Dennis Scanlin is a Professor of Technology at Appalachian State University. He is the founder of both the Appropriate Technology and Construction Technology programs at Appalachian and for the last 25 years has coordinated Appalachian's Appropriate Technology Program. He received a BS from Penn State University and a MA & Ed.D from West Virginia University. Energy education & renewable energy technology have been a major focus of his work throughout his career. He has designed, constructed & tested many renewable energy systems including; solar ovens, food dryers, lumber kilns, water heaters, water distillers, space heating systems, green houses, and small hydro, wind, & PV systems. He has also developed and taught numerous courses and workshops focusing on a wide variety of renewable energy technologies over the last 25 years. Most recently wind energy has become a major focus of his work. He directs the Western NC Small Wind Initiative, which includes; the operation of Appalachian State's Small Wind Research and Demonstration facility on Beech Mt, the Western NC Anemometer Loan Program, the wind.appstate.edu web site, and a variety of outreach and technical assistance programs related to wind energy.

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Ed Witkin
Director of Operations, Solar Tech South, LLC
Chapel Hill, NC
ewitkin@gmail.com
Ed Witkin has been designing and installing solar energy systems since 1987, and has also been active with renewable energy education, creating solar energy displays, and writing articles. Ed built and lived in an off-grid solar powered house in Connecticut from 1991-2003. In 2003 Ed's family moved to North Carolina and started Carrboro Solar Works, LLC. In 2009 he joined Solar Tech South, LLC, of Chapel Hill, NC. Ed also plays in several local bands.

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Since 1976, the private, non-profit National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has been helping people and communities adopt technologies that save energy and protect natural resources. For more information, please visit www.ncat.org.