Officials from The Wanner Farm, a 600 head dairy operation in Lancaster County, announced it has received funding from the Sustainable Energy Fund of Central Eastern Pennsylvania to complete the installation of an anaerobic digester to process dairy manure and generate electricity for dairy operations and possible resale to the power grid.

In July, construction is expected to be completed on an anaerobic digester that will convert animal waste to electricity at a rate of 1 million kilowatt hours per year. At that rate, it is enough to provide green electricity to approximately 40 houses in the PPL power grid for one year. In addition to providing “green” or renewable energy, the project will result in the creation of renewable energy credits and carbon credits.

“The Sustainable Energy Fund is pleased to partner with the Wanner Farm to finance an anaerobic digester for the production of green electricity, reduction of greenhouse gases, improved manure handling, reduced odor generation, and to provide bedding material for the dairy herd. These projects are a natural fit with the SEF’s mission of developing and investing in economically viable, energy related projects that promote environmentally sound and sustainable energy use,” said John Forsythe, SEF Project Manager.

Manure digesters are beginning to make financial sense for livestock producers, particularly during a time when locating and creating alternative energy sources have gained national and state focus. Aside from turning manure from a waste product into a renewable energy source, digesters are one way for large concentrated feeding operations to meet the environmental and public pressures of managing manure.

“The SEF of Central Eastern Pennsylvania is leading the way in efforts to create a diversified energy base by investing in technologies that will promote renewable energy and assist the agricultural community to manage manure wastes more efficiently”, stated Jennifer Hopkins, President of the Sustainable Energy Fund.

In addition to funding from the Sustainable Energy Fund, the Wanner Farm received an Energy Harvest Grant from the Department of Environmental Protection, and a Section 9006 Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture.

According to the farmer, Mr. Alfred Wanner, “programs like these help a farmer with the upfront costs of installing an anaerobic digester. As a farmer, I’m always interested in environmentally friendly projects. My up front capital requirements were reduced and I am able to recapture my investment in electricity cost savings over time.”

The Wanner farm is a family farm in operation since 1840. The Wanner farm provides dairy product to Land O’Lakes and Hershey Chocolates, among other brands.

CNN produced a news piece on renewable energy and interviewed Mr. Wanner and John Forsyth of the Sustainable Energy Fund. The clip is supposed to be aired on CNN during the next week.

For more information, visit the Sustainable Energy Fund website.

4/27/2007