ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 19, 2009

BISMARCK STUDENT IS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER FOR A DAY

BISMARCK – North Dakota’s Honorary Agriculture Commissioner for a Day says the use of renewable energy not only means lower costs for consumers, but creates new jobs and new markets for North Dakota agricultural products.

“Use of these alternative energy sources will reduce our country's use of fossil fuels, which means that our country will spend less money on importing oil from other countries and will have more money to spend right here in our country,” says Nick Goulet, 14, a student at Wachter Middle School in Bismarck. “These alternative energy resources don't produce harmful gases, and so don't contribute to air pollution.”

The son of Wally and Cynthia Goulet of Bismarck, Nick placed first in the 2009 Pride of Dakota essay contest, sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. More than 130 eighth-graders from across the state submitted essays of 250 to 500 words on the theme “How can North Dakota’s renewable energy resources benefit consumers, the economy and the environment?”

“Nick clearly understands the potential for various kinds of renewable energy resources, including hydropower, wind energy, biofuels and geothermal heat,” said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson. “He knows that North Dakota products, made from top quality commodities, can hold their own in the world marketplace for healthfulness.”

As Honorary Agriculture Commissioner, Nick received a $150 savings bond from the North Dakota Bankers Association (NDBA). He also met with the staff of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and was Johnson's guest for lunch.

"The North Dakota Bankers Association is proud to honor the achievements of young people who understand and promote the value of North Dakota's quality agriculture industry," said Rick Clayburgh, NDBA President and CEO. "Our bankers have been long standing supporters of agriculture.  We will always be proud of our state's businesses, farmers and ranchers that offer excellent products that compliment healthy lifestyles."

Julie Dolbec, NDBA communications director, presented a $100 savings bond to the second place winner, Katherine Meager, Harvey, a student at B.M. Hanson Elementary School, Harvey, and a $50 savings bond to the third-place winner, Lucas Mondry, Forest River, a student at Minto Public School.

Authorized by the Legislature and administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Pride of Dakota program fosters the development and growth of small businesses and especially businesses that are farm-based or rely on agricultural commodities. Pride of Dakota member companies can participate in cooperative promotion and marketing events; receive representation at local, state, regional, national, and international trade shows and educational opportunities. More than 400 companies are Pride of Dakota members.

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MEDIA: For more information or for a photograph of Nick Goulet as Ag Commissioner for a Day, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov

The text of Nick’s essay – “How can North Dakota’s renewable energy resources benefit consumers, the economy and the environment?” follows this release and is also available on the department website www.agdepartment.com.

How North Dakota’s renewable energy resources can benefit consumers, the economy and the environment?
By Nick Goulet, Wachter Middle School, Bismarck, ND

Alternative energy refers to energy sources that are not based on burning fossil fuels, or resources that can't be replenished. The main alternative energy sources in North Dakota include water, wind, geothermal and biofuels. Use of these alternative energy sources will reduce our country's use of fossil fuels, which means that our country will spend less money on importing oil from other countries and will have more money to spend right here in our country. These alternative energy resources don't produce harmful gases, and so don't contribute to air pollution. None of them produce radioactive waste, as does nuclear energy, and so there is no concern with handling and disposing of radioactive waste.

Hydropower is obtained by forcing water to run over turbines which activate generators to make electricity. To force the water to run for electricity production, the river must be dammed. The Garrison Dam is used to make electricity. This electricity does not produce the harmful emissions that burning fossil fuels does, so it is much better for our atmosphere. Although the cost of building a dam, turbines and generators is very high, the cost of continuously producing electricity is low, so all in all, hydropower is a much less expensive and a much more reliable source of electricity than burning fossil fuels. Hydropower production can be controlled, so that more can be made for peak demand times, and less can be made when the demand is lower. Hydropower is renewable, and as long as there is water in the river and in the dam, there will be hydropower. Right now, hydropower is the largest source of renewable energy in our country.

Wind energy is produced by building windmills or wind turbines and taking that energy and putting it into generators to make electricity, like hydropower. They work best if they are built on open plains, where the wind is likely to be stronger and steadier. Wind energy is renewable. Unlike hydropower facilities, which have to pay for use of water, the wind is free, it has no cost. Wind turbines do not make and release any harmful gases. Because the wind turbines are very, very tall, the land beneath them can still be used for certain types of activities, for example, ranching and agricultural crop production. Wind energy is less expensive than fossil fuel energy. Although wind energy is not as steady and reliable as hydropower, there are methods for storing wind produced electricity, so that it can be released when no wind is blowing and no electricity is being made.

Geothermal energy is obtained from the heat within the earth's crust. Well bores are dug, up to three miles deep, where temperatures are over 3000 degrees. Water is run down those well bores, and then brought back up to the surface and the steam is used to run furnaces in buildings. This is a renewable source of energy. It does not produce the harmful emissions that fossil fuel burning does. Although geothermal systems are expensive, they pay for themselves in several years, because they save so much money as compared to using gas or oil to heat buildings. If you have a home with geothermal heating, you don't have to worry about filling propane tanks or oil burning furnaces, or about the cost of gas to heat your home.

Biofuels, like fossil fuels, are made from organic material. Fossil fuels are made from long dead and buried organic materials; biofuels are made from current plant crops. Biofuels include ethanol, added to gasoline, and biodiesel, added to diesel. Ethanol comes from plants high in sugar, like corn and sugar beets, and biodiesel comes from plants high in oil, like sunflower and soy plants. These fuels have more oxygen, and so burn faster, which makes auto engines run more efficiently. They don't have harmful emissions, so they reduce air pollution. Biodiesel manufacturing plants create jobs. They are less expensive to build than refineries for making oil and gas. They help the agriculture industry, by buying and using crops grown by farmers. Biofuels are also defined as renewable, because as long as farmer can grow the plants, biofuels can be made.