Some farmers in the U.P. and northeastern Michigan could soon be growing switchgrass, which can be burned as an alternative energy source. It is hardy native prairie grass that is easy to grow and can be converted to heat and electricity by burning it alone or with coal. The grass is bailed and either burned directly or converted to heat into pellets, which can be used with both home and large scale commercial pellet stoves.

Growers are working with Michigan State University (MSU) researchers and Extension specialists to determine if switchgrass is adaptable to the U.P. climate and can be converted to an energy source here.

"Northern lower Michigan and the U.P. have limited cropping options," said David Glenn, MSU Extension director for Presque Isle County and primary investigator for the project. "Growing switchgrass and other bioenergy crops adapted to our long, cold winters, marginally fertile soils, and shorter growing season and processing them into alternative energy sources will help provide economic opportunities for local communities."

Jim Delekta of Rogers City toured similar operations in Missouri and has partnered with Mr. Glenn to research conversion of the grass into energy pellets to sell as fuel for pellet stoves.

"We're still in the test mode, but I was pretty impressed with the potential I saw in this crop when we visit similar operations in Missouri," Mr. Delekta says. "Longer term, it's possible that the price of corn will go up as more and more of the crop is converted into ethanol, and switchgrass is a feasible alternative as an energy source. What's more, switchgrass is less expansive than fossil fuels, and it's good for the environment."

Mr. Glenn hopes that as more data and information on the practice becomes available, more farmers will start growing and marketing switchgrass as an alternative to fossil fuels.

"Switchgrass has shown promise as a high yielding crop in this region," he said. "It also has the added benefit of helping to prevent erosion and generating less pollution than traditional energy sources. Heating with pellets made from switchgrass is also less costly than heating with fuel oil or wood."

Northern Michigan farmers have been interested in identifying an alternative energy crop that could be grown successfully in the region and also boost the local economy, Mr. Glenn said, and MSU Extension educators in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula have been conducting research projects for nearly seven years. The current project is funded by Project GREEN (Generating Research and Extension to meet Environmental and Economic Needs).

Project GREEN is the state's plant agriculture initiative at MSU. It is a cooperative effort between plant-based commodities and businesses together with the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Agriculture to advance Michigan's economy through its plant-based agriculture. Its mission is to develop research and educational programs in response to industry needs, ensure and improve food safety and protect and preserve the quality of environment.