NYSERDA Helps Squeeze More
than Just Milk from Local Dairy Cows
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE, July 5, 2001
CONTACT: Tom Collins, NYSERDA
(518) 862-1090, ext. 3250.
Albany, NY – Improving waste disposal and refining manure into
bio-gas, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
(NYSERDA) is helping to improve the economic and environmental performance
of farms in Western New York. The focus of each project is to decrease
the costs and the environmental impacts associated with agricultural
waste management.
Currently, NYSERDA is funding a feasibility study with the Town
of Perry to determine the cost of a bio-digester that would treat
manure from 3000 dairy cows, recover the bio-gas and use it to generate
more than 200,000 kWh of electricity per year, or about enough electricity
to power nearly 30 homes for a year.
"One of many goals shared by Governor Pataki and NYSERDA
is to increase the use of renewable energy in New York," said
William M. Flynn, President of NYSERDA. "This project in the
Town of Perry is just another step in the right direction for the
State, both economically and environmentally."
NYSERDA is contributing $50,000 to offset the cost of the $100,000
project. The Town of Perry will cover the remaining half. If the study
shows that the bio-digester is technically and economically viable,
the Town intends to construct several bio-digesters for farms around
the area.
"The Town (of Perry) wanted to address concerns about manure
odor and disposal. While looking at our options, the notion of a
bio-digester was brought up and that's how we found out about NYSERDA,"
said Town of Perry Supervisor Ann Humphrey. "We couldn't have
done this on our own. Without NYSERDA's financing and the technical
assistance, this wouldn't have happened."
NYSERDA is also collaborating with a company in Wyoming County on
a similar project. Noblehurst Farms, Inc., of Linwood is moving ahead
to construct and commercially operate a community anaerobic digestion
system to treat manure from over 1,500 cows and use the recovered
bio-gas to generate more than 1,000,000 kWh of electricity per year
(enough electricity to power about 142 homes for a year). NYSERDA
is contributing $250,000 to the $648,830 project, while Noblehurst
Farms will provide the remaining costs. Farms in the York vicinity
will be able to take advantage of the digester once the project is
complete.
Outside of Buffalo, NYSERDA is working on a third project in conjunction
with the Empire State Development Corporation and Kreher's Poultry
Farms of Clarence to develop a method of drying and composting poultry
manure in an "agitated bed" without the use of a bulking
or carbon source. Through demonstration, the compost will be slightly
churned, dried, and then sold as fertilizer. This will reduce the
need for inorganic fertilizer which requires energy to produce and
transport. In addition, the composting process will control odor and
cut down the runoff of nutrients. The total cost of the project is
$1,549,803 with NYSERDA providing $200,000 and $500,000 from the Empire
State Development Corporation. Kreher's Poultry Farms will pay the
remaining balance.
"NYSERDA understands that farms are under increasing pressure
to control waste, especially with odor and other contaminants. The
objective of these projects is not only to help the environment, but
to help New York's farmers by creating a process that costs less than
conventional methods," said Flynn.
NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, supports research to develop
technologies that help New York save energy and reduce emissions.
NYSERDA also helps New York State businesses develop energy and environmental
products, commercializing the type of high-value-added products that
give New York State businesses a real chance to compete in the expanding
global marketplace. In addition, NYSERDA helps New York State businesses,
residents, and municipalities identify and implement cost-effective
energy efficiency measures that lower operating costs and reduce environmental
emissions.
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