Land In the project is deemed highly and will be seeded to prairie grasses to create Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). There is also funding available to incentivize planting 40,000 acres of winter-hardy cereal rye cover crops which will also be harvested for RNG production. The federal agriculture department is providing $80 million through its Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant awarded to a partnership of 13 public and private entities led by Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE). The Horizon II project will provide owners of highly erodible land significant income to care for that property in a new, and arguably better, way. The incentives include: Rent: $160 per acre per year for highly erodible land for the duration of the contract. Turnkey Approach: Horizon II pays all expenses for prairie seed, installation, maintenance for first two years. Renewable Energy Revenue: Beginning in year 3, receive $37 per ton of harvested prairie biomass delivered to the RAE anaerobic digester that will be located near Albany, Missouri. Or: The landowner receives $1 per ton if RAE handles harvest and delivery. Potential Environmental Credit Compensation: Additional income from carbon sequestration and other ecological services (landowner receives 75 per cent). There are planting protocols: . Dormant seeding (or frost seeding).
Native Prairie seeds perform best when planted during the cold of winter.
Seeds are broadcast over-ground beginning in late January.
During frost-heaving cycles, the seeds work their way to the proper soil depth.
After a couple of cold months in the ground, the seeds are ready for optimal germination in the spring.
Locally Sourced Seed Mix: Diverse mix of forbs and grasses native to northern Missouri and southern Iowa, ensuring success in the region. While Horizon II produces renewable natural gas (RNG) from prairie biomass, the organizers said there are also significant environmental benefits such as habitat for native wildlife species, improved water infiltration, improved soil health, carbon sequestration and an end to soil erosion |