SCHUMER TOURS CORNELL COOPERATIVE - PUSHES FOR CENTRALY LOCATED BIODIGESTER THAT HAS POTENTIAL TO SAVE FARMERS MONEY, REDUCE WASTE AND GENERATE CLEAN ENERGY; DISCUSSES HOW TO EXPAND TECHNOLOGY IN LEWIS COUNTY, AROUND THE STATE
Biodigester Turns Animal and Crop Waste Into Energy, Saving Farmers Money and Producing Clean Energy, but Technology Needs to Be Expanded Before Enough Farmers Can Take Advantage
Schumer Tours Cornell Cooperative and Discusses with Local Farmers and Officials Ways Federal Government Can Help Bring Equipment to Lewis County
Local Feasibility Study Shows that Biodigester Would Save Between $50-$57 per Ton for Lewis County Residents
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer toured the Cornell Cooperative Extension to meet with local officials, scientists and farmers to discuss ways to bring a centrally located biodigester to Lewis County. Biodigesters are an innovative product with the capability to produce massive savings for families, farmers and businesses. Schumer discussed the results of a recent feasibility study in Lewis County showing that a properly located biodigester could bring down costs for farmers and families.
Currently biodigesters are far too expensive for most families, costing up to $1 million dollars apiece, but a biodigester owned and operated by a centrally located center like the Cornell Cooperative Extension would provide a reasonably priced option to farming families at an ideal location.
"Bringing a biodigester to Lewis County would be a win-win-win for local residents," Schumer said. "A biodgester will reduce costs for farming families across Lewis County, generate clean energy and cement the Cornell Cooperative's reputation as a leader in agriculture and clean energy technology."
Biodigesters convert organic wastes into a nutrient rich liquid fertilizer and biogas, a renewable source of electrical and heat energy. Biodigesters help families and farmers by providing a cheap source of fuel, preventing environmental pollution from runoff from animal pens, and reducing diseases caused by the use of untreated manure as fertilizer. Families living in rural communities throughout New York could convert animal and vegetable waste into energy thereby reducing their cost of living and helping them to balance their budget. In addition to lowering costs, families or organizations that own biodigesters use them to produce revenue by selling excesses electricity generated back to the grid.
Cornell University recently undertook a study, commissioned by local business, agriculture and municipal officials, to determine the feasibility of a centrally located biodigester. The study found that a biodigester in Lewis County could serve up to 15 targeted areas that include farms and local businesses, saving a family between $50-$57 per ton of waste. The new cost would be a huge benefit for families who currently pay a per ton fee at the Lewis County transfer site of approximately $74 per ton. The anticipated savings would dwarf the estimated $4.7-$7.1 million capital costs that would be required to bring the equipment to the area.
While in Lewis County, Schumer discussed this promising technology and how the federal government can play a constructive role in bringing biodigesters to places like Lewis County all across the country. Specifically, Schumer pledged to work with community farmers and local officials over the coming months to identify federal grants that may allow the project to move forward. Schumer also committed to lobbying high level officials at the USDA to take a close look at the careful work that Lewis County has done and identify concrete ways to move the project forward.
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