Local Farmer Pushes Renewable Energy Bill

Russ Lester, owner of Dixon Ridge Farms, has modified his walnut farm so that it burns leftover walnut shells and converts them into fuel while simultaneously heating and drying the nuts. He wants the farm to become totally self-powered. 

A representative at UC Davis calls Lester the “guinea pig” of bioenergy, according to KQED. The local farmer has worked tirelessly to change rules that would allow farmers to use the byproduct of their crops to create electricity.

This comes the same week UC Davis announced its new sustainable agriculture major – another demonstration that Yolo County hopes to be on the forefront of a potentially very positive high-tech ag movement.

California is just a few votes away from passing SB 489, which is the bill Lester has been championing. Read the full story on KQED.