Rena Cooper-Webb has the earth under her fingernails (figuratively, and sometimes literally), so hosting an alternative energy meeting at Zion Farms Thursday that included Donnie Smith, agricultural liaison to Gov. Sonny Perdue, was natural.

Cooper-Webb, known for running the Zion Farms guest estate in Floyd County, is embarking on a new career in alternative fuel technology for agriculture.

She said it was her love of agriculture and green technology that prompted her to join Innovative Fuel Technology LLC with partners Tom Silver and George Turnipseed.

The Cooper family owns Zion Farms on Big Texas Valley Road. In late 2007, the family closed the farm to the public and privatized and is contemplating the farm’s future.

Cooper-Webb said, despite local speculation, no plan has been finalized for Zion Farms and stressed her new venture is not related to what might happen there.

But it is the life she’s known growing up in the middle of farm country that’s led her to the new business.

“You cannot get any closer to the dirt than today’s farmers. What they do directly impacts what we eat every day,” she said. “There is not a group of people who understands the love of the earth better. The energy issue in our country is a growing concern. With a coordinated effort between farmers/growers, government, research and development teams and academic efforts, we can all make a difference faster.”

Joining Smith at Thursday’s meeting were Devon Dartnell, biomass program manager for the Georgia Forestry Commission, who made a presentation, and Deborah Lohnes of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. All three are members of the Georgia Bioenergy Partnership’s One-Stop Shop panel, which is designed to streamline the process for new or expanding bio-energy companies.

The company unveiled its plans to manufacture a new heater system for poultry houses that uses wood pellets instead of propane.

Georgia is the largest poultry-producing state with 21.5 billion chickens generating $2.5 billion a year in farm cash receipts.

The heaters have been developed by Innovative Fuel Technology doing business as Alabama Heaters, which is under the direction of Silver and Turnipseed, both Alabama farmers. Silver designed the heater.

“As farmers, these gentlemen were forced to be time efficient and cost efficient in everything they did. Tom’s design for a heater system that is fueled by wood pellets instead of propane changes the energy issue for the farmer right where it counts — in their pockets,” Cooper-Webb explained.

The University of Georgia and the Georgia Forestry Commission have worked together to take the prototype through testing, said Cooper-Webb. After Thursday’s presentation, IFT will seek the guidance and instruction of the One-Stop Shop. After review, the product will be prepared for manufacturing.

Silver demonstrated the heater for the state visitors Thursday.

“The typical chicken house burns an estimated 6,000 gallons of propane gas a year, which is approximately $12,000 a year. By using an abundant renewable resource like wood as an alternative fuel, growers could see significant savings a year per house,” Silver said. “The use of wood as a fuel creates a new market for waste wood and has shown to be the most efficient in our system.”

The partners touted other benefits of the high-tech wood-fueled heater system. They say it improves air quality because no products of combustion enter the chicken house, which allows for the following improvements:

• Reduces in-house humidity

• Lower humidity reduces the amount of ammonia (green house gas) generated

• Unique air distribution system decreases heat stratification, distributing heat more efficiently through the house

• Lowered mortality rate

• Birds mature faster under better conditions

• Produces bigger birds

• Increase in net income per house

• Improved environmental conditions and air quality for workers.

Cooper-Webb said the heaters will be manufactured in Georgia, though the details haven’t yet been worked out.

“I am privileged to work with such an innovative group of people who intend to make a difference in our world,” she said. “I believe renewable resources found in our own country are the key to a change in our energy planning and our economy.”