New York Provides $21 Million for Dairy Farms to Convert Waste to Energy

New York will make available nearly $21 million to state dairy farmers to generate energy from waste.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release the project aims to help dairy farmers convert farm waste to energy and develop business and environmental plans to reduce operating costs and increase profitability.

Most of the funding targets anaerobic digestion. ”Farmers that utilize anaerobic digester technology are able to produce renewable energy and lower their costs while providing a number of environmental benefits to their local communities,” said John Rhodes, president and CEO, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Beginning Jan. 17, $20 million will be available through NYSERDA to install anaerobic digester technology that produces renewable biogas used to produce electricity and heat from organic waste. Farms, food processing manufacturers or municipal wastewater sites will be eligible for up to $2 million per project.

During the past 10 years, NYSERDA and the New York Power Authority have awarded nearly $30 million toward anaerobic digestion projects and related technology.  The funding currently supports 20 operational digester projects.

The digester technology funding will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible projects.

Funding for the Dairy Acceleration Program (DAP) will be increased by $850,000, which is in addition to the $1 million announced by the governor in August.