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Northwest Dairy Digester Workshop

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Workshop and DeRuyter Dairy Tour: November 18, 2008

Snipes Mountain Brewery and Restaurant
905 Yakima Valley Highway
Sunnyside, Washington 98944

Increasing desire for renewable energy and greater environmental protection, and the growth of the livestock industry, have created the atmosphere for the viability and growth of anaerobic digester systems in the Northwest. Management of odors, water quality, air emissions, and nutrients are major issues facing dairy farmers and the citizens in the region. However, anaerobic digester systems have proven to be one solution to many of these issues, as well as a viable energy source. These technologies not only address many of the environmental concerns surrounding manure management, but also create opportunities for revenue from energy generation, nutrient value, fiber recovery, and carbon credits.

Thank you to the break sponsors!
CSNAR logo Layfield logo

This workshop, hosted by AgSTAR, Washington State Department of Agriculture, and WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources, provided a broad overview of anaerobic digestion of livestock manure and other related issues. After the workshop, attendees visited the George DeRuyter and Sons Dairy in nearby Outlook, Washington. The dairy is home to approximately 4,500 cows and 1,000 heifers housed in two farm complexes. Its anaerobic digester project, operational since 2006, is a two-stage mixed-plug flow system. The project is generating electricity and has a nameplate capacity of 1.2 megawatts.

The presentations from the event are posted below.


8:15 AM

Welcome / Introductions
Jeff Canaan, Washington State Department of Agriculture

8:30 AM

Guidance for Facilities Considering Anaerobic Digestion and Methane Recovery
Chris Voell, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - AgSTAR Program (34 pp, 1.8MB)

9:00 AM

What We've Learned About Digesters in the Past Four Years
Chad Kruger & Craig Frear, Washington State University (WSU) - Climate Friendly Farming (13 pp, 570K)

9:45 AM

Economics of Anaerobic Digestion
Richard Shumway, WSU - School of Economic Sciences (17 pp, 1.6MB)

10:15 AM

Break

10:30 AM

Financing Your Digester Project Funding Sources Through the 2008 Farm Bill
Donald Hollis, USDA Rural Development, Rural Business Service (21 pp, 524K)

Digesters as Greenhouse Gas Offset Projects
Peter Weisberg, The Climate Trust (11 pp, 664K)

11:00 AM

Recovering Nutrients from Your Digester
Craig Frear, WSU - Climate Friendly Farming

11:30 AM

Implications for Your Nutrient Management Plan
Jason Pentzer, Washington State Department of Agriculture (10 pp, 40K)

11:45 AM

State Policies and Regulatory Implications for Digester Projects
Chad Kruger, WSU - Climate Friendly Farming (13 pp, 570K)

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Project Development Experience in the Northwest
Brian Gannon, Biogas Energy Inc. (8 pp, 602K)
Kevin Maas, Farm Power Northwest LLC (11 pp, 1.3MB)
Marlin Statema, Andgar Corporation
Jim Jensen, Environmental Credit Corporation (8 pp, 873K)
Kevin Best, RealEnergy, LLC (11 pp, 1.2MB)

2:45 PM

Changes in Utility Interconnection Policies
Dave Sjoding, WSU Extension Energy Program (9 pp, 66K)

3:00 PM

Overview of DeRuyter Digester
Marlin Statema, Andgar Corporation (24 pp, 15MB)

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