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Central Virginia Green Poultry Energy Project. 2009 Virginia Ag Summit February 9, 2009 William F. Osl, Jr. Central Virginia Green Poultry Energy Project . Factors Supporting Project The Project Project Accomplishments Next Steps. Factors Supporting Project.
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Central Virginia Green Poultry Energy Project 2009 Virginia Ag Summit February 9, 2009 William F. Osl, Jr.
Central Virginia Green Poultry Energy Project • Factors Supporting Project • The Project • Project Accomplishments • Next Steps
Factors Supporting Project Cumberland County & County Farm Bureau co-host Summits to surface opportunities and challenges facing: • rural preservation & growth • farm profitability & preservation
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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
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
Project Accomplishments • Business plan is completed (12/08) • Ag-Renewable Resources, LLC files its Articles of Organization (01/09)
Next Steps • Extend membership/ownership opportunity to fellow poultry farmers in Cumberland and surrounding counties • Assemble financing • Begin construction