Vermont farmers hope biogas provides financial boost

SALISBURY | Conclusion: Interest in anaerobic digesters has been increasing among dairy farmers in recent years, said Jamie Jonker, vice president of sustainability and scientific affairs at the National Milk Producers Federation. The United States has about 200 operational dairy digesters, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (The U.S. Department of Agriculture records about 34,000 licensed dairy farms in the country.) It's early to tell how the pandemic might affect that interest: Some farmers might want to bring in new revenue, while others might be hesitant to take risks. Unlike the Goodrich farm project, most farmers own their digestion facilities, Jonker said. That means they have to pay for them. He estimates that for existing projects, the cost would have averaged about $2 million to $2.5 million. Given the price, it's often more realistic for larger farms to consider a project like this. Partnerships like the one between the Goodrich farm and Vanguard could help offset the risk, Jonker said, "with the realization that there can be financial returns." The milk producers association recently set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Projects like the one at the Goodrich farm will be important in helping farmers achieve that goal, Jonker said. Vanguard's leadership hopes to make an appealing case for dairy farmers. With Vanguard making the capital investment in the digester and taking responsibility for operating it once construction is complete, farmers can pursue the project with less risk, said John Hanselman, Vanguard's chair and CEO. The company until this year worked only with dairy farms, although now Hanselman and his team have broadened to poultry farms too. "Our great frustration is that we can't do it at more farms more quickly," Hanselman said. Negotiations take time, although they've become easier as farmers become more knowledgeable of the technology. Vanguard's co-digestion division — which develops, owns, and operates anaerobic digesters that convert both food waste and manure to renewable natural gas — currently has five facilities operating on dairy farms in Massachusetts in addition to the forthcoming one at the Goodrich farm. Another is planned for New York. U.S. dairy farms have been "brutally impacted" by COVID-19, Hanselman said, "and they were having a hard time prior to COVID." He hopes projects like the one at Vanguard help local farmers stay in business even during hard times like this.

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Vermont farmers hope biogas provides financial boost

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