Winter Storm Harkens Wisdom of Energy Diversification

Winter Storm Harkens Wisdom of Energy Diversification

It's time to harness a homegrown Iowa fuel

By Aaron Putze, APR

It was January 1982 when the perfect winter storm descended upon our northwest Iowa farm. A thick layer of ice arrived first, followed by snow and strong winds. I remember peering through the frost-covered windows of the farmhouse as an 11-year-old, mesmerized by the blinding whiteness and intimidated by the wind’s wicked howls. Keeping the livestock fed, watered and bedded was a priority as the ice and snow thickened and wind chills plummeted.

Within hours of the storm’s arrival, exposed and defenseless power lines led to outages. In a blink, we were without electricity, running water, and, worst of all, flushing toilets. As the cold pressed into the farmhouse, we retreated to the basement and took refuge alongside a gas stove once the possession of my grandparents. Pressed into immediate duty, it offered much needed warmth and heat for cooking, while an oil lamp given just a week earlier as a Christmas gift provided light for reading and endless games of UNO and Monopoly.

Eventually, the storm passed, and power and functioning toilets were restored. The gas stove, which prior to the storm had primarily served as a tabletop for spare parts and empty ice cream pails, was transformed into a revered member of the family.

Today, it remains in the very same spot where it cooked and literally saved our bacon 40 years ago.

Snow blankets a barn located on Aaron Putze’s childhood farm near West Bend (Palo Alto County).

Lessons Learned During the Storm

Three important lessons were learned during that memorable winter storm. First, never take running water and flushing toilets for granted. Second, purchase every parcel of real estate you can on your first three trips around the Monopoly board. And always have options when it comes to energy.

We would do well to keep the last lesson in mind as we take inventory of the present and future of our quality of life and national security. This includes the immediate and long-term benefits of homegrown fuel derived from soybeans.

Wind power took root in Iowa beginning in the early 1980s. Today, more than half of the state’s generated electricity comes from wind, helping power cities, homes and businesses in and beyond Iowa. Despite this success, the industry (much like solar) is challenged by significant startup investments and the need for large amounts of land (including developing on prime farm ground). Energy output is also limited and unreliable due to the fickleness of wind and sunshine.

As attention shifted over the past decade to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the electric vehicle (EV) industry has exploded. Extensive marketing and generous federal incentives have electrified everything from public transit fleets, sports cars and school buses to garbage and pickup trucks. In California, EVs accounted for nearly 10% of new vehicle purchases in the first half of 2022.

As the EV market matures, so is the conversation regarding its pros and cons. Batteries needed to power EVs require materials sourced from countries not especially friendly to America. Battery charging strains already overburdened power grids, increasing the potential for rolling brownouts and calls for voluntary rationing of daytime energy consumption. Fires involving EV batteries burn super hot, posing a threat to life and property. Battery disposal, lack of charging stations and mileage variability per charge are also concerns, as is the fact that electricity needed to charge EVs often comes from natural gas, coal, petroleum and nuclear.

Harnessing Homegrown Fuel

More recently, homegrown energy made from Iowa soybeans has been making headlines and for a good reason. Increasing our nation’s energy independence while reducing GHG emissions is a potent combination. Biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel derived from soybeans are perfect examples of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of farmers.

Soybeans are comprised primarily of oil and protein. For decades, soybeans were mainly grown and processed for the meal, a protein-rich ingredient ideal for poultry, pig, dairy, beef and fish feed. In the 1980s, America was awash in soybean oil because demand for it paled compared to the meal. So, soybean farmers self-funded research to develop a market for the oil. Those investments gave rise to biodiesel, ideal for heat generation and powering trucks, semis, marine vessels and other heavy-duty equipment.

More recently, soy-based renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel have taken flight. Proponents of these fuels refer to them as “cleaner, better, now” because they’re currently available in large quantities and proven to reduce GHG emissions by at least 50% compared to petroleum diesel (soybean oil, specifically, reduces GHG by 66%!).

As more companies, airlines and municipalities pledge to aggressively reduce GHG emissions, Iowa is uniquely poised to help fulfill this goal. Iowa ranks second nationally in soybean production and first in low-carbon biodiesel production (the state’s 11 biodiesel plants produce nearly 350 million gallons or almost 20% of total U.S. production). More plants are planned and under construction. In 2021, the biodiesel industry generated 6,513 full-time equivalent jobs in all sectors of the Iowa economy and $450 million in household income.

Finding a home for soybean oil also positively affects livestock farmers and food prices. Adding demand for soy-based fuel increases the amount of soybeans processed. This demand increases the supply of soybean meal, thus reducing a key input cost for livestock farmers. In turn, this positively impacts the price you pay for chicken, milk, pork, beef, turkey and fish.

As discussions intensify regarding energy and the environment, we all benefit from using more homegrown biofuels. They’re readily available, burn cleaner, create jobs and benefit food prices. Their use also enhances our nation’s security, generates value-added markets for Iowa’s farm families and diversifies America’s energy portfolio.

As I learned a long time ago in the midst of a raging blizzard, having energy options is indeed a very good thing (even better when those options are renewable and produced by Iowa farmers!).