Black Hawk County Prairie Grass Used as Fuel

WASHBURN, Iowa (AP) — A group of University of Northern Iowa researchers and Black Hawk County conservationists have cultivated about 100 acres of prairie grass in the hopes of burning it for fuel.

The "Prairie Power" project located within the Black Hawk County Natural Resource Area, southeast of Washburn, has reintroduced plants and wildlife not seen in the area for some time.

Researchers are also studying the prairie grasses' benefits in decreasing soil erosion and water pollution from nutrients washing into rivers and streams.

They're trying to find a market for the prairie grass as fuel, but selling it as a fuel source is difficult with natural gas prices so low. A test burn at Cedar Falls Utilities' Streeter Station power plant in 2013 yielded positive results.