The Sacramento Municipal Utility District today is unveiling the county's first manure treatment system, designed to provide renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The manure digester is at Cal-Denier Dairy in Galt, where 500 milk cows will become SMUD's latest source of renewable power, according to a district news release.
A dairy manure digester, also called an anaerobic digester, is a container that holds manure at a given temperature for a period of time, allowing a steady growth of bacteria producing methane and carbon dioxide.
The treatment system produces several components, including fertilizer and methane gas, which can be used to produce electricity.
The manure digester will benefit the dairy by reducing odor and flies, providing better fertilizer for crops, reducing the need for commercial fertilizer and providing electricity that will offset the diary's electric usage. The dairy will be able to sell excess power to SMUD, the release states.
The digester will produce enough electricity to power 55 homes, officials said.
The utility district's Dairy Digester Incentive program provided 50 percent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture grant application cost for Cal-Denier Dairy and helped with permitting, interconnection and additional grants. It also provided 13 percent of the capital cost to match the 25 percent USDA Rural Development grant, set up metering and provided a power purchase agreement for surplus electricity.
The USDA's Rural Development program and Natural Resources Conservation Service and California Energy Commission also provided project funding, the releases states.
Call The Bee's Niesha Lofing, (916) 321-1270.
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