Biomass Assessment Study Offers New Opportunity for Cumberland and Franklin County Farmers

Harrisburg, PA, August 09, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Five Cumberland and Franklin County dairy farm owners have the opportunity to reduce their waste management costs, through participation in a new biomass energy project funded by the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund. Applications are being accepted through August 26 from farm owners who are interested in participating in a feasibility assessment of their site. The project will include evaluation of farm biomass resources and energy efficiency in producing on-site electricity.

High-density animal production areas are prime locations for combining alternative nutrient management and energy conversion. The environmental impact of deploying anaerobic digestion technology will be considered as part of the potential benefit to the nutrient health in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The assessment study will target at least five (5) farm sites with economic potential for generating electricity from biomass. Evaluation of candidate sites will determine where an on-farm anaerobic digestion system could be installed and operated to provide an economic source of locally generated electricity.

Utilizing the funding from West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund, a project assessment team, including Farm Pilot Project Coordination (FPPC), Tetra Tech, and Red Barn Consulting, will conduct the evaluation. The intent of their work is to assess how farm nutrients can be collected, stored and deployed alternatively to benefit the farm owner while having positive economic and environmental impact.

Farm owners who are interested in learning more about the assessments should contact Bob Monley or Peter Hughes before August 26th, 2013, or can sign-up at FPPCinc.org.

Bob Monley (FPPC) – (Phone 513-934-7188)
Peter Hughes (Red Barn) – (Phone 717-393-2176)

Farm Pilot Project Coordination, Inc. (FPPC) has a specific mandate is to oversee the implementation and administration of a Pilot Project Program to demonstrate economically viable and innovative treatment technology systems that reduce the nutrient content of the waste stream from AFOs by 75 percent or greater. To learn more about FPPC, visit the webpage at FPPCinc.org.

Tetra Tech is a leading provider of consulting, engineering, and technical services worldwide. A diverse company, Tetra Tech includes individuals with expertise in science, research, engineering, construction, and information technology. Strengths include collectively providing integrated services—delivering the best solutions to meet our clients' needs with a purpose to enhance the quality of life while creating value for customers, associates, investors, and ecosystem partners. Visit tetratech.com for more information.

Red Barn Consulting provides a full suite of agricultural, environmental, and related engineering services. More information can be found at redbarnag.com.

West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF) invests in the deployment of clean energy technologies throughout the West Penn Power service region in Pennsylvania. Investments are made to promote: the use of renewable and clean energy, energy conservation and energy efficiency, and the attraction, establishment, and retention of sustainable energy businesses. Visit wppsef.org for more information.