As seen in the Rochester Business Journal
New York’s First Co-Digestion Biodigester At Synergy Dairy in Wyoming County
SCHUMER PUSHES TO BUILD NEW YORK’S FIRST CO-DIGESTION BIODIGESTER AT SYNERGY DAIRY IN WYOMING COUNTY
Schumer Writes to National Grid Urging Swift Acceptance of Application for Mixed-Waste Renewable Energy Facility in Wyoming County; Will Spur Economy, Add 10,000 MW of Renewable Energy to Grid Each Year
Biodigester Will Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions By 8,500 Tons Each Year, Produce Enough Energy For 1,000 Homes
Schumer: Completed Biodigester Will Be First At Working Dairy Farm and Largest in New York State
Today, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer pushed National Grid officials to swiftly accept Wyoming County IDA’s application for funding through the Renewable Energy and Economic Development Program for a mixed-waste anaerobic digestion and renewable energy facility at the Synergy Dairy located in the Town of Covington. Three weeks ago, CH4 Biogas, LLC broke ground on the biodigester at 2,000 cow Synergy Dairy, and upon completion the project will be the largest energy producing on-farm digester in New York, and the first biogas plant in New York designed specifically for co-digestion of manure with food grade organic waste. This grant will be used to cover the cost of the transmission facility needed to connect the digester to the grid. Schumer wrote a personal letter to the Economic Development Program Coordinator Karen Mousaw, urging National Grid to support to construction of the facility, as the project works to establish Upstate New York as a leader in sustainable, clean energy.
“Wyoming County has already distinguished itself as a pioneer in the development of renewable energy and to build on that foundation we should move full steam ahead with this cutting edge biodigester, which will produce energy, reduce waste and cut harmful emissions,” said Schumer. “The creation of New York’s first co-digestion Biogas plant in Covington will only reinforce the region’s commitment to expanding its clean energy infrastructure. As the need to develop renewable energy sources becomes increasingly important, I am proud to stand with the Wyoming County IDA and call upon the National Grid to assist in the construction of this Biogas plant.”
In a letter to the National Grid’s program coordinator, Schumer states that the Synergy Dairy biodigester would be the ideal project for National Grid’s support, and a smart investment in the clean energy future of New York. Once fully operational, Synergy Biogas will generate more than 10,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy annually, which would in turn reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 8,500 tons of carbon dioxide per year. Also, Schumer notes that this Wyoming facility will be one of the largest on-farm digesters in the state and the first independently owned and operated plant located on a dairy farm. This biogas plant is designed specifically for co-digestion of manure with food grade organic waste which would otherwise end up in landfills. The National Grid Renewable Energy and Economic Development Program’s $750,000 grant would provide the final push to complete this energy project by funding the cost of its associated transmission facility. In the final stage of the program, Cornell University and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) will evaluate and report on the performance and environmental benefits of the project.
The Renewable Energy and Economic Development Program of National Grid funds projects within their service territory that demonstrate alternative generation technologies while producing significant economic development benefits for the region. The program will provide matching grants up to $750,000 for collaborative projects that involve an Upstate research institution, one or more renewable energy technology partners, and a regional economic development sponsor. Schumer states that the mixed-waste anaerobic digestion and renewable energy facility at Synergy Dairy meets all the requirements for National Grid’s program, and would be a smart investment in the Upstate economy.
Schumer states that expanding the use of biodigesters is integral to clean energy development efforts in New York, as the technology utilizes the state’s agricultural sector and produces savings for families, farmers and businesses.
A copy of Senator Schumer’s letter to Karen Mousaw, National Grid’s Economic Development Program Coordinator, appears below:
June 14, 2011
Karen Mousaw
Economic Development Program Coordinator
National Grid
300 Erie Boulevard West
Syracuse, New York 13202
Dear Ms. Mousaw:
I am writing in support of the application submitted by the Wyoming County IDA to National Grid for funding through the Renewable Energy and Economic Development Program for a mixed-waste anaerobic digestion and renewable energy facility at the Synergy Dairy located in the Town of Covington.
Across Western New York I have long pushed for new clean energy development to create jobs and grow local economies in an environmentally sustainable way. Expanding the use of biodigesters is integral in my clean energy development efforts since this technology leverages New York’s robust agricultural sector and produces savings for families, farmers and businesses. Indeed, this Synergy Biogas will create local jobs in both the construction and operation of the plant facility and will generate more than 10,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy annually thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 8,500 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
This facility will be one of the largest on-farm digesters in the state and the first independently owned and operated plant located on a dairy farm. Additionally, the facility will be the first biogas plant in New York State designed specifically for co-digestion of manure with food grade organic waste which would otherwise end up in landfills.
This grant funding will not only help the Wyoming County IDA fund the transmission facility to connect the digester to the grid, but will enable Cornell University and the Rochester Institute of Technology to evaluate and report on the performance and environmental benefits of the project to encourage similar future developments.
For these reasons, I am pleased to support the Wyoming County IDA’s application to leverage this project’s full potential. Thank you for your consideration. Please feel free to contact my office at 202-224-6542 should you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
Senator Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
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