The funding will help the farmers to install technology for renewable energy generation and to improve their business operations. The farmers will be able to convert farm waste to energy and develop individual business and environmental plans to reduce operating costs and increase profitability.
The funding comes after recommendations were made at Governor Cuomo’s Yogurt Summit in 2012 to ensure that the industry continues to grow in New York State, creating jobs and adding to the economy. In his 2014 State of the State Address, Governor Cuomo pledged a second Yogurt Summit to identify additional economic growth opportunities within this growing sector of the economy.
“The State is committed to creating new economic opportunities for our dairy farmers, who have helped make New York the Yogurt Capital of the nation” Governor Cuomo said. “With this funding, we are providing significant financial assistance to farmers so they can cut their energy costs, increase efficiencies in their operations, and develop plans to expand their businesses and contribute to cleaner communities. This year, we are also launching a second Yogurt Summit to ensure the state’s dairy industry continues to thrive and grow the Upstate economy.”
John B. Rhodes, President and CEO of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) added that funding for anaerobic digestion (AD) coupled with the Dairy Acceleration Programme is a further step that Governor Cuomo is taking to assist farmers in reducing operating costs and generating clean energy. Farmers utilizing the technology can also help to provide a number of environmental benefits to local communities.
“Governor Cuomo’s continued support has achieved environmentally responsible growth in the dairy industry throughout the state” said Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens. “This collaboration with our partners, including Cornell University, provides farms with the technical expertise they need to help protect New York’s natural resources and open spaces.”
From January 17th, $20 million will be available for farmers through NYSERDA to install anaerobic digesters in order to produce renewable biogas for electricity generation and heating from organic wastes. Farms, food processing manufacturers or municipal wastewater sites will be eligible for up to $2 million per project.
Biogas-to-power processes have several steps. Dairy manure and organic wastes are pumped into digestion tanks where bacteria breaks down the waste. This creates biogas and a nutrient-rich effluent which can be used as a fertilizer. The biogas can be burned in engines to generate electricity and heat thereby eliminating a significant proportion of the electricity farmers would otherwise have to purchase from the utility grid. They can also export the electricity onto the grid in exchange for credits.
NYSERDA and the New York Power Authority have awarded nearly $30 million for AD projects over the past 10 years, generating significant savings for businesses in the state while reducing the use of fossil fuels. Currently the funding supports 20 operational digester projects. The new funding will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For additional information:
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
