Central Virginia Green Poultry Energy Project

1. Central Virginia Green Poultry Energy Project 2009 Virginia Ag Summit February 9, 2009 William F. Osl, Jr.

2. Central Virginia Green Poultry Energy Project • Factors Supporting Project • The Project • Project Accomplishments • Next Steps

3. Factors Supporting Project Cumberland County & County Farm Bureau co-host Summits to surface opportunities and challenges facing: • rural preservation & growth • farm profitability & preservation

4. Factors Supporting Project • Cumberland ranks 5th in poultry production • Regulatory uncertainty - poultry waste • Growth pressure • Existing technology • Growing demand for alternative energy & renewable resource products • Farmers and county leaders - supportive

5. The Project Process poultry litter,hay, straw, and wood chips, using thermophilic anaerobic digestion to: • generate energy from methane gas • organic soil amendments from the undigested solid and liquid co-products • credits for sequestration of pollution causing compounds

6. The Project • Cumberland farmers visit West Virginia State University’s Bioplex Project (3/07) • Anaerobic digestion of poultry litter and co-product utilization • Pilot plant operating since 1999 • http://bioplexproject.wvstateu.edu/ • Cumberland farmers form Steering Committee to explore renewable energy opportunities using poultry wastes

7. The Project • Steering Committee decides to further pursue opportunities using thermophilic anaerobic digestion of poultry wastes • Donald Bishop, Chairman • John Bapties • Lester Goin • William Osl • William Sanderson, Jr. • Thomas Smith • Charles Womack, III • Elbert Womack • Robert Womack

8. The Project • The process includes: • blending poultry wastes, biomass, water and microbes in an enclosed environment • separating biogas and digested solids slurry • combustion of biogas as fuel or to generate steam or electricity • processing digested solids slurry into organic fertilizers & compost

10. The Project • Opportunities • alternative use and market for poultry litter • alternative use for landfill-destined biomass • renewable energy supply • renewable fertilizer product supply • carbon footprint reduction • farmer/local ownership • reduced regulatory issues • market driven environmentally friendly “win-win” solution

11. Project Accomplishments • Steering Committee initiates feasibility study (5/07) • USDA Rural Development awards Cumberland Farm Bureau $37,000 VAPG on behalf of Steering Committee to conduct a feasibility study & develop a business plan (9/07)

12. Project Accomplishments • Steering Committee engages expertise from the following: • Enviro-Control, Ltd • Longwood Univ. Small Business Dev. Center • Pepco Energy Services • Virginia Cooperative Extension • Virginia Farm Bureau Federation

13. Project Accomplishments • Feasibility Study completed (6/08) • farmer-owned anaerobic digester was determined technically feasible • 14 tons poultry litter/day (< 25% regional litter production) • 1.4 megawatt output (enough electricity for >1,000 homes) • organic solid fertilizer • organic liquid fertilizer

14. Project Accomplishments • Business plan is completed (12/08) • Ag-Renewable Resources, LLC files its Articles of Organization (01/09)

15. Next Steps • Extend membership/ownership opportunity to fellow poultry farmers in Cumberland and surrounding counties • Assemble financing • Begin construction

16. Thank you.Questions?