The Cove Area Regional Digester recently received a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Commission to conduct a 60-day Pilot Test of the proposed technology for the regional manure digestion and treatment facility to be located in Martinsburg, PA.

This state of the art facility will be instrumental in the capture and removal of over 1,000,000 lbs. of nitrogen that reaches the Chesapeake Bay Watershed annually and provides a centralized solution to the complex problem of agricultural waste handling.

The goals of the pilot test are: Verification of Design Values – Verification of the technologies that are recommended for the CARD project and to evaluate the specific design criteria. Economic Evaluation – Design Values from Pilot Testing can predict ultimate operational costs. Public Relations – A Pilot Test allows the public, regulators, and government officials to view the project components and provides valuable opportunities to deal with issues such as odors, safety, and reliability.

“The CARD project is currently utilizing data from other types of projects, which is why it is extremely important to conduct a pilot study with the actual raw materials that will be placed into the digester to determine actual operational costs” said Randy Stoltz, Chairman of the Cove Area Regional Digester.

The test pilot is expected to begin Fall 2006 and will operate for approximately 60 days.

“Given the unique nature of this project and pilot testing, the CARD project staff will be giving tours to government officials, regulators, municipal wastewater facility personnel, and the local community.” said Julie Dick, Executive Director of the Cove Area Regional Digester.

With a site for the project secured, and site feasibility evaluation and development underway, the CARD project is moving forwards with the anticipation of beginning final design upon completion of the pilot testing.

“The announcement of the Chesapeake Bay Commission grant brings us closer to the day when odors are minimized, groundwater protected, resources totally utilized and agriculture sustained in the Morrisons Cove region of Blair County, Pennsylvania” stated Ron Donlan, Vice Chairman of the Cove Area Regional Digester.

For more information on the project, or to arrange a tour of the pilot testing, please contact the following contacts: Julie Dick, Executive Director, Cove Area Regional Digester, 814-793-0090 or send email to: CoveDigester@earthlink.net ; Jason Wert, PE, Sr. Project Manager, HRG, Inc. Engineers, 814-238-7117 or send email to: jwert@hrg-inc.com .

Link: The New Math of Energy Production: Cows + Manure = Gas + Electricity

9/1/2006