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Rebates replace diesel engines with electric wells, despite push for renewable fuel

A Midwestern state is incentivizing farmers to replace diesel irrigation motors with electric well units to reduce engine pollution.   

But, not every farmer is on board. South-Central Nebraska farmer Doug Saathoff tells Brownfield there is a better alternative for growers and consumers.

“We can reduce greenhouse gases by over 50 percent, and there are so many other health benefits with using biodiesel.  We don’t need to throw away good diesel engines to replace them with electric because we have something that works right now.”

He says diesel engines use drop-in fuel. “You can easily go up to B20.  I know farmers that are using B50 in their diesel engines.”

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy awarded nearly $325,000 in rebates to 17 Cornhusker farmers recently and Randy Smith with the agency says eliminating emissions will help reduce dangerous pollutants in the ozone layer.

“If the electricity powering that electric motor is coming from renewable sources or nuclear power, then there is no overall air pollution associated with running those irrigation units. “

Smith says diesel engines emit nitrogen oxide, which is harmful and can have adverse respiratory affects in rural areas.

“With biodiesel, you would still have some emissions.  It would be cleaner than an old regular diesel engine burning regular diesel fuel.”  

The Clean Diesel Program is funded by an annual grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and NDEE says the program is expected to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by over 8 tons annually.  

EPA through NDEE will cover up to 60 percent of replacement costs capping at $20,000 for electric motors. The agency will also provide up to 25 percent of costs to replace diesel-to-diesel engines.

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