Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Press Release: Cow Power and Clean Air
Cow power holds promise of cleaner air for Valley
Senators look at implications of methane digesters on energy needs and air quality
For Immediate Release
Jennifer Hanson
August 10, 2004
916-445-4641
SACRAMENTO - Senators Dean Florez and Deborah Bowen will hold a joint hearing of the Senate Air Quality and Energy committees, which they respectively chair, on the impact methane digesters in dairy operations could have on the state's energy needs and air quality.
Methane digesters offer the opportunity to turn pollution-producing wasteinto energy instead, by mixing cow manure with water to create biogas, whichcan then be combusted in an internal combustion engine to create power andheat. In a state where 1.7 million dairy cows create 65 billion pounds of manure ayear, increased use of such digesters would significantly reduce the volumeof solid waste and treated liquids requiring disposal and help preventrunoff of polluted water into the water table. It would also significantlydecrease greenhouse gasses released by dairies.
In addition, many dairieswith methane digesters generate enough energy to power their dairy operationand home. While it sounds like a win-win, the move to increase dairies' use ofdigesters is complicated by finances and difficulty connecting methanedigesters to the electrical grid.
Wednesday's hearing will help inform the public about grant programs available through the Energy Commission topurchase and install costly methane digesters. Participants will also lookinto ways to remove current bureaucratic hurdles to making a switch thatwould be vital to air quality in California.
Wednesday's hearing is another in a series of meetings spanning almost twoyears now into efforts to improve air quality in the Central Valley, whereair quality is some of the lowest in the nation, while childhood asthmarates are among the highest. Digesters may soon become a requirement fornew or modified large dairies under permitting requirements designed tobring agriculture into compliance with the Federal Clean Air Act for thefirst time.
The "Cow Power and Clean Air" hearing will include representatives of thedairy industry, water and air pollution control specialists, representativesof the utilities and state boards that oversee them and experts on thedigester technology.
It will be held Wednesday, August 11, at 1:30 p.m. inRoom 112 of the State Capitol.
*** MEDIA ADVISORY *** MEDIA ADVISORY *** MEDIA ADVISORY ***
WHO: Senator Dean Florez, D-Shafter Chairman, Senate Select Committee on Air Quality in theCentral Valley Senator Deborah Bowen, D-Marina del Rey Chairwoman; Senate Energy, Utilities and CommunicationsCommittee
WHAT: "Cow Power and Clean Air": Joint hearing on use of methane digesters in dairy operations
WHEN: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 1:30 p.m.WHERE: State Capitol, Room 112
Senators look at implications of methane digesters on energy needs and air quality
For Immediate Release
Jennifer Hanson
August 10, 2004
916-445-4641
SACRAMENTO - Senators Dean Florez and Deborah Bowen will hold a joint hearing of the Senate Air Quality and Energy committees, which they respectively chair, on the impact methane digesters in dairy operations could have on the state's energy needs and air quality.
Methane digesters offer the opportunity to turn pollution-producing wasteinto energy instead, by mixing cow manure with water to create biogas, whichcan then be combusted in an internal combustion engine to create power andheat. In a state where 1.7 million dairy cows create 65 billion pounds of manure ayear, increased use of such digesters would significantly reduce the volumeof solid waste and treated liquids requiring disposal and help preventrunoff of polluted water into the water table. It would also significantlydecrease greenhouse gasses released by dairies.
In addition, many dairieswith methane digesters generate enough energy to power their dairy operationand home. While it sounds like a win-win, the move to increase dairies' use ofdigesters is complicated by finances and difficulty connecting methanedigesters to the electrical grid.
Wednesday's hearing will help inform the public about grant programs available through the Energy Commission topurchase and install costly methane digesters. Participants will also lookinto ways to remove current bureaucratic hurdles to making a switch thatwould be vital to air quality in California.
Wednesday's hearing is another in a series of meetings spanning almost twoyears now into efforts to improve air quality in the Central Valley, whereair quality is some of the lowest in the nation, while childhood asthmarates are among the highest. Digesters may soon become a requirement fornew or modified large dairies under permitting requirements designed tobring agriculture into compliance with the Federal Clean Air Act for thefirst time.
The "Cow Power and Clean Air" hearing will include representatives of thedairy industry, water and air pollution control specialists, representativesof the utilities and state boards that oversee them and experts on thedigester technology.
It will be held Wednesday, August 11, at 1:30 p.m. inRoom 112 of the State Capitol.
*** MEDIA ADVISORY *** MEDIA ADVISORY *** MEDIA ADVISORY ***
WHO: Senator Dean Florez, D-Shafter Chairman, Senate Select Committee on Air Quality in theCentral Valley Senator Deborah Bowen, D-Marina del Rey Chairwoman; Senate Energy, Utilities and CommunicationsCommittee
WHAT: "Cow Power and Clean Air": Joint hearing on use of methane digesters in dairy operations
WHEN: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 1:30 p.m.WHERE: State Capitol, Room 112
# posted by Senator Dean Florez @ 12:37 PM 
