America is in the midst of an energy transition that is impacting all sectors of our society, changing the way we power our industries, heat our homes, fuel our cars, and grow our food. The energy systems of the future must continue to be reliable, abundant and affordable, while also addressing climate change and other environmental challenges. Progress is being made to decarbonize the electric grid, where renewables plus nuclear energy now constitute over 42% of the energy supply1. However, there is another energy grid, the natural gas grid, where renewables represent less than 0.5% of the supply2,3. Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), produced from organic wastes and biomass through the process of anaerobic digestion, can play several unique and critical roles in the energy transition. Among other benefits, RNG can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in otherwise difficult to decarbonize sectors of the economy while also serving as an engine of economic growth and rural development, and improving the environmental sustainability of food and agricultural systems.
Exploring RNG’s Role in Decarbonizing Agriculture, Transportation, and Beyond
We recently interviewed Ben Kruger, VP of the Renewables Division at Roeslein & Associates (Left), and Bryan Sievers, Director of Government Relations at Roeslein Alternative Energy (Right), a subsidiary specializing in renewable natural gas (RNG) production. With extensive experience spanning agricultural and energy sectors, they bring deep insights into transforming organic waste into sustainable energy solutions. Their work involves developing RNG projects that leverage farm-generated manure waste, navigating complex regulatory frameworks like the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), and advancing domestically produced renewable energy initiatives. Through innovative engineering and strategic project development, Ben and Bryan are at the forefront of creating sustainable infrastructure that bridges agricultural practices with clean energy production.
Read the full article here:
Horizon II: How Restored Prairie Will Contribute to Renewable Energy Production
Horizon II: How Restored Prairie Will Contribute to Renewable Energy Production
By Adam Voight
First published in Conservation Federation of Missouri Magazine, January 2025
Restoring 30 million acres of prairie in 30 years is an ambitious goal, but if there is one person who can realize that vision, it’s Rudi Roeslein. Rudi founded Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) in 2012 after spending more than 30 years building a global engineering, manufacturing, and modular construction company. Energy consumption, reliance on fossil fuels, and the associated environmental impacts deeply concern Rudi, prompting him to invest $57 million of his own money to develop a solution.
Rudi prides himself on finding solutions where others see problems. When he purchased a farm in northern Missouri, it reflected the toll that decades of farming marginal land can take on the landscape. As an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, his goal was to improve wildlife habitat while maintaining a farming operation. Rudi’s farm, along with many others across the Grand River basin —once a thriving grassland ecosystem—had been stripped of its biodiversity. Erosion had taken its toll, and soil quality had degraded from years of traditional row-cropping practices.
Opportunities for Land, Wildlife, and Renewable Energy
To be clear, we do not view farming as the problem. We strongly support our farmers and the essential role they play in feeding and fueling our country. Our aim is to help restore balance to native ecosystems while creating additional revenue streams for farmers and landowners. Current practices are not sustainable. However, we can improve soil, water, and air quality while introducing new financial incentives to landowners. There is an opportunity to develop solutions that restore native ecosystems, benefit wildlife, and produce renewable energy. Rudi’s northern Missouri farm is now a shining example of what is possible.
In September 2023, Roeslein Alternative Energy was awarded an $80 million grant from the U.S.D.A.’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. The funding will support a five-year pilot project called Horizon II (H2), which will take place in Iowa and Missouri. The goal of H2 is to demonstrate a “Climate-Smart Future for Corn, Soybean, Livestock, and Renewable Natural Gas Production.” Eleven partner organizations are contributing to the program: Iowa State University, University of Missouri, Missouri Prairie Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Districts of Iowa, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, Iowa Soybean Association, Sievers Family Farms, Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, Smithfield Foods, and Veterans in Agriculture.
With this funding, we can begin realizing the pathway to restoring native grasslands while helping support our country’s energy needs. The grant award is a significant step toward advancing RAE’s core mission: developing a market-based solution that uses sustainably harvested biomass to create renewable natural gas while assigning economic value to restored native grasses, prairie plants, and winter-hardy cover crops.
“Since founding RAE, our overarching goal has been to provide farmers an alternative way to use land, especially highly erodible acres, in ways that will benefit the environment, wildlife, and their livelihood,” said Rudi Roeslein, RAE founder and chairman.
Horizon II digestors, Stockton, Iowa
Restoring Native Grasslands and Supporting Energy Needs
The grant will compensate farmers and landowners for biomass production, greenhouse gas reductions, and carbon sequestration in the soil through an outcomes-based program promoting cover cropping and prairie restoration practices. The program will focus on restoring marginal, low-performing acres to prairie. Program partners will collaborate with farmers, landowners, and other stakeholders, including historically underserved producers, to ensure equitable access to the opportunities offered by low-carbon agriculture. RAE and its partners will supply native seeds and assist with the prairie planting. The resulting sustainably harvested biomass will be added to anaerobic digestors to create renewable natural gas.
Our nation has a massive 2.3 million miles of natural gas pipeline capable of supporting renewable energy growth. Renewable natural gas created from manure and prairie biomass has the same molecular composition as traditional natural gas and can be fed directly into the national grid. This offers a new pathway for creating renewable energy in the heartland. While not the only solution for improving energy production, it is one that can help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and provide additional income to local farmers and landowners—a win for rural farming and for restoring native grasslands.
From a communications standpoint, our primary goal is to educate landowners and the public on the opportunities available and the improvements we are making. We developed a media platform, Prairie Prophets, to showcase this work. It can be accessed at PrairieProphets.com and across all social media channels. Through this platform, we will share stories highlighting the work being done throughout the grant, as well as the people and places involved. We hope to inspire not only landowners but also the children and grandchildren of current landowners. These themes are further explored in a new book, Prairie Power: How Prairies Can Heal the Planet, written by Kathy Love, with a foreword by Rudi Roeslein. Prairie Power traces the history of settlement and the transformation of the landscape. It describes the immense natural value of native plants and animals who depend on them. It also offers hope to rural communities and their residents who want to make a living on the land.
Inspiration and Collaboration
We’re all inspired by someone—Rudi Roeslein inspired me with his vision and the way a successful private company can not only maintain a solid bottom line but also revolutionize renewable energy production while supporting conservation efforts. Rudi himself was inspired by others. Dr. Peter Raven, one of the world’s leading ecologists, was an early supporter of Rudi’s vision of combining prairie restoration with renewable energy. At every obstacle that seemed insurmountable, Dr. Raven offered encouragement. Ecologist Dr. David Tilman also played a significant role. Dr. Tilman’s research suggests that “growing mixed prairie grasses on the world’s degraded land could produce enough bioenergy to replace 13 percent of global petroleum consumption and 19 percent of global electricity consumption. Fuels made from prairie biomass are ‘carbon negative,’ which means that producing and using them actually reduces the amount of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) in the atmosphere. Prairie plants store more carbon in their roots and soil than is released by the fossil fuels needed to grow and convert them into biofuels.”1
Dr. Lisa Schulte Moore’s development of the STRIPS program (Science-based Trials of Row crops Integrated with Prairie Strips) has shown incredible improvements in soil and water quality when implemented alongside row-crop production. Her research at Iowa State University finds the following: “By strategically adding 10% prairie strips to a no-till corn or soybean field, they found a 95% reduction in soil loss a, 37% reduction in water runoff a, 77% reduction in Phosphorus runoff, 70% reduction in Nitrogen runoff a, and a 70% reduction in nitrous oxide emissions b.”2
The work of Dr. Raven, Dr. Tilman, and Dr. Schulte Moore is inspiring. Along with other efforts— such as Dr. Tom Richard’s C-Change group and the Grass2Gas project—they are leading the way in bridging the gap between biodiversity, cover crops, prairie restoration, and renewable energy. It takes visionaries like Rudi Roeslein to bring these people and practices together. With private and public support, we can achieve a balance between restoring the natural landscape and producing renewable energy.
As conservationist Doug Duren states, “It’s not ours; it’s just our turn.” We all benefit from inspiring the next generation by doing our part to leave the land a little better than how we found it.
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1 Tilman et al. 2006. Carbon-Negative Biofuels from Low-Input High-Diversity Grassland Biomass | Science
2 a Schulte et al. 2017; b lqbal et al. 2015; a Hirsh et al. 2013; a Tyndall et al. 2013.
Horizon II, Request for Proposal – Accounting Services
Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC
Horizon II: A Climate-Smart Future for Corn, Soybean, Livestock, and Renewable Natural Gas Production
Request for Proposal
November 7, 2024
- Introduction
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit vendor information, qualifications, approach, and cost for accounting services and related support for an $80 million United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant awarded to Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE). The grant period started September 14, 2023, and runs for a five-year period.
This document includes a profile of the business need, scope, and response guidelines.
- Background
The Horizon II Pilot Project will demonstrate how farmers can earn environmental credit compensation and renewable energy revenue by planting prairie grass and cover crops and harvesting the “biomass” to use as a feedstock in the anaerobic digestion process.
A partnership of 13 public and private entities led by Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC finalized the grant from the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. The funding will be used in a five-year pilot project in Iowa and Missouri called “Horizon II” to demonstrate a “Climate-Smart Future for Corn, Soybean, Livestock, and Renewable Natural Gas Production.”
The Horizon II project will enhance climate-smart markets, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve carbon sequestration in the production of corn, soybean, pork, and beef commodities. Horizon II will also create new opportunities for small and underserved producers while benefiting soil health, clean water, flood control, and habitats for native wildlife.
More information on the grant can be found at https://prairieprophets.com/usda-climate-smart-commodities-grant/. Questions regarding the RFP should be sent to: Ron Murray – Grant Accountant at [email protected].
Download the full RFP for Accounting Services, click HERE.
Horizon II, Request for Proposal – Audit Services
Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC
Horizon II: A Climate-Smart Future for Corn, Soybean, Livestock, and Renewable Natural Gas Production
Request for Proposal
November 7, 2024
- Introduction
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit vendor information, qualifications, approach, and cost for annual GAGAS audit services and related support for an $80 million United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant awarded to Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE). The grant period started September 14, 2023, and runs for a five-year period. This could create the need for six annual audits.
This document includes a profile of the business need, scope, and response guidelines.
- Background
The Horizon II Pilot Project will demonstrate how farmers can earn environmental credit compensation and renewable energy revenue by planting prairie grass and cover crops and harvesting the “biomass” to use as a feedstock in the anaerobic digestion process.
A partnership of 13 public and private entities led by Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC finalized the grant from the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. The funding will be used in a five-year pilot project in Iowa and Missouri called “Horizon II” to demonstrate a “Climate-Smart Future for Corn, Soybean, Livestock, and Renewable Natural Gas Production.”
The Horizon II project will enhance climate-smart markets, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve carbon sequestration in the production of corn, soybean, pork, and beef commodities. Horizon II will also create new opportunities for small and underserved producers while benefiting soil health, clean water, flood control, and habitats for native wildlife.
More information on the grant can be found at https://prairieprophets.com/usda-climate-smart-commodities-grant/. Questions regarding the RFP should be sent to: Ron Murray – Grant Accountant at [email protected].
Download the full RFP for Audit Services HERE.
Horizon II, Request for Proposal
Document Purpose
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit vendor information, qualifications, approach, and cost for Roeslein Alternative Energy to evaluate potential vendors to become partners for the Horizon II Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities Grant.
This document includes a profile of the business need, scope, and response guidelines.
Document Intent and Disclaimer
This RFP is made with the intent to identify a firm (the “Contractor”) to deliver results as described in the subsequent sections. RAE will rely on the contractor’s representations to be truthful and as described.
This RFP is not an offer to contract. RAE assumes no responsibility for Vendors’ cost to respond to this RFP. RAE has no obligation to buy or issue solicitation to any contractor because of this RFP. All responses become the property of RAE.
If RAE amends the RFP, copies of such amendments will be sent to all firms selected for this RFP.
RAE Overview
Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) was founded in 2012 as an operator and developer of renewable energy production facilities that convert agricultural and industrial wastes, along with renewable biomass feedstocks, into renewable natural gas and sustainable co-products.
RAE engages in these business operations with a focus on sustainability and environmental improvement. Rudi Roeslein’s vision is to restore 30 million acres of grasslands on marginal lands throughout the Midwest in 30 years. Beyond that, we hope to use this as a model to restore
hundreds of millions of acres of grasslands around the globe.
A rapidly growing population is causing an incredible amount of stress on our landscapes. At Roeslein Alternative Energy, we have a market-based solution to the competing demands of the need for both sustainable agriculture and renewable energy.
When land not naturally suited for agriculture is used to raise corn or soybeans; erosion, soil degradation, and water problems emerge. Ironically, the quest for additional energy often finds prime agricultural acres raising crops for fuel, rather than food. But, there is an alternative that restores balance. It creates a new sustainable energy industry, manages livestock and land resources, while delivering healthier soil, cleaner water, and healthier wildlife habitat.
The solution is anaerobic digestion, which naturally breaks down organic matter in an oxygen-free environment. A byproduct is methane-rich biogas which can be converted to renewable natural gas. The remaining solids can be used as natural fertilizer and the water for irrigation.
Roeslein Alternative Energy works to preserve our lands for the future and to show individual landowners and society as a whole we can collaboratively discover and implement alternative agriculture and energy solutions.
Project Context
A partnership of 13 public and private entities led by Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) finalized an
$80 million grant from the federal government’s first pool of funds from the U.S.D.A’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. The funding will be used in a five-year pilot project in Iowa and Missouri called ‘Horizon II’ to demonstrate a “Climate-Smart Future for Corn, Soybean, Livestock, and Renewable Natural Gas Production.”
The Horizon II project will enhance climate-smart markets, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve carbon sequestration in the production of corn, soybean, pork, and beef commodities.
Horizon II will also create new opportunities for small and underserved producers while benefiting soil health, clean water, flood control, and habitats for native wildlife.
RAE seeks a partner who also has the experience collecting field data necessary, quantifying and providing environmental outcome compensation, sampling, and field verification.
To access the full RFP, download HERE.
Read the full Notice of Grant and Award Agreement HERE.
Find a Map of the project area HERE.
Notice of Grant and Agreement Award, USDA
NRCS-ADS-093U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
NOTICE OF GRANT AND AGREEMENT AWARD
Statement of Work
Purpose The purpose of this agreement, between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC (Recipient), is to build markets for climate-smart commodities and invest in America’s climate-smart producers to strengthen U.S. rural and agricultural communities. |
| Objectives
The objectives of this project are to support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities by providing voluntary incentives to producers and landowners, including early adopters, to implement climate-smart agricultural production practices, activities, and systems on working lands; measure/quantify, monitor and verify the carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits associated with those practices; and develop markets and promote the resulting climate-smart commodities. Read the full Notice of Grant and Award Agreement HERE. |
A Push to Turn Farm Waste into Fuel
Roeslein Alternative Energy featured in New York Times article: Climate change provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act have spurred developers to build ambitious renewable energy projects that turn manure into methane.
Read more: A Push to Turn Farm Waste Into Fuel – The New York Times (nytimes.com)
$80 Million grant aims to make regenerative farming practice a moneymaker for farmers
Keeping plants continuously growing on farmland through the winter protects and enriches the soil, improves water quality, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why Lisa Schulte Moore, a natural resource ecology and management professor at Iowa State University, is working to make the year-round covered ground a conventional practice.
“My vision is that when we drive around Iowa in December, we don’t see a single bare field,” she said.
While the use of cover crops is growing, it’s far from common. A new grant of up to $80 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will fund a project meant to spur more farmers to plant cover crops and perennial prairie grass through both direct payments and a demonstration of how harvested winter-hearty crops and grass can be processed into renewable natural gas.
Roeslein joint venture marks milestone on hog manure energy project
Written by: Diana Barr
Published by: St. Louis Business Journal
Monarch Bioenergy, a joint venture between St. Louis-based Roeslein Alternative Energy and a division of Smithfield Foods Inc., has reached a milestone in their approximately $150 million bioenergy project.