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Renewable Energy Education Field Days -Anaerobic Digesters
Renewable Energy Education Field Day – Anaerobic Digesters
The use of anaerobic digesters as a tool for energy production, manure/nutrient management and revenue generationfor livestock operations in the Southwest region of the United States was the focus of a virtual Renewable Energy Education Field Day on Oct. 26, 2011.
This webinar examined technical, environmental and financial factors to consider when installing an anaerobic digester on a livestock operation. Specific attention was given to the use of digesters with dry manure and in the unique climatic conditions of the Southwest.
Farm Foundation, NFP organized the webinar in collaboration with USDA’s Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, USDA Rural Development, and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. This is the second Renewable Energy Education Field Day presented by Farm Foundation, NFP and USDA agencies. The first field day, which took place in November 2010, focused on biomass.
Providing opening remarks were New Mexico Sen. Jeff Bingaman, who chairs the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack; Dr. Catherine Woteki, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Extension; and Dr. Lowell Catlett, Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at New Mexico State University.
Farm Foundation, NFP organized the webinar in collaboration with USDA’s Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, USDA Rural Development, and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service
The webinar was targeted to dairy and beef producers in New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. It originated from the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, Las Cruses, N.M. Viewing sites were organized in California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C.
Speakers included livestock producers with experience in operating an anaerobic digester, industry leaders working with various technologies used in anaerobic digestion, university researchers, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, and representatives from government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AgStar program. Review the speaker bios.
Here is the webinar agenda, with speaker presentations as available:
Session 1 – Perspectives on Sustainable Energy
Moderator: Mary Thompson, Farm Foundation, NFP
Welcome
Lowell Catlett, Dean, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University
Renewable energy options for the New Mexico
The Honorable Jeff Bingaman, U. S. Senator from New Mexico
USDA Commitment to Digesters and the Growth of the Eco-Service Market
The Honorable Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Research to Commercialization
Dr. Catherine Woteki, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics
Session 2 – A Producer Perspective on Sustainability and Integrated Digester Systems
Moderator: Bill Hagy, USDA
Sustainability and Anaerobic Digester Systems
Mike McCloskey, Select Milk Producers, Inc. and Fair Oaks Dairy
Session 3 – Digesting manure under dry climatic conditions
Moderator: Bill Hagy, USDA
Lessons learned from the Pecos Valley Study
David Belcher and Gerry Greathouse, Pecos Valley Biomass Cooperative, Clovis, N.M.
Perspectives from beef operations digesting feedlot manure
Mike Kotelko, Highmark Feeders & Growing Power Hairy Hill LP, Alberta, Canada
Session 4 – How a digester can help manage livestock manure/nutrient issues
Moderator: Robert Hagevoort, New Mexico State University
Technical issues of digester integration into an energy/nutrient management system and cogeneration
Dr. Saqib Mukhtar, Texas A&M University
The economics of digester integration into an energy/nutrient management system and cogeneration
Dr. Bill Lazarus, Economist, University of Minnesota
Nutrient treatment technologies for manure
Bob Monley, Farm Pilot Project Coordination, Inc.
Session 5 – Potential revenue streams from an integrated digester syste
Moderator: James Fischer, Fischer & Associates
Connecting on-site electrical generators & electric grids in the Southwest
Nolan Clark, Bushland, Texas
Composting, Carbon Mitigation and Fiber Revenue Potential
Bob Joblin, AgPower Group
Session 6 – Financing options for anaerobic digester installation
Moderator: James Fischer, Fischer & Associates
Models for financing digester systems
Jerry Bingold, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy
Government financing programs
Bill Hagy, USDA Office of the Secretary
Expectations of Lenders
Jacob Penn, Farm Credit of New Mexico
Session 7 – Next steps to begin integrating a digester into a livestock operation
Moderators: James Fischer, Fischer & Associates
Programs of USDA and the Natural Resources Conservation Service
Bill Boyd, NRCS Manure Management Team Leader, North Carolina
Programs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Chris Voell, National Program Manager, AgStar, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Universities/State programs
Robert Hagevoort, New Mexico State University
8-25-11