May 2004 Newsletter

Company Explains Plan to Convert Manure to Energy in Idaho

May 5, 2004
By Lorraine Cavener, Twin Falls Times-News

They plan to do something every environmentalist wishes for – put waste in one end and get energy out the other.

Partners of Environ Inc., with offices in Jerome and Boise, explained the plan to city officials and the public Tuesday. With technology that has been used by utility companies for at least 40 years, Environ’s proposal could eventually eliminate the need for landfills, Environ partners said.

Three locations are being considered for a factory that could be – depending on the level of local commitment – operational within six to eight months and would use cow manure, sewage sludge, municipal city waste and would even be able to turn tires and used motor oil into electricity.

Negotiations are in process to sell the energy produced by the plant to Idaho Power Co. or other utility companies, Environ officials said.

Government grants are available for this type of project, but Brent Hessing, Environ partner, said the company is not looking toward grants as the main support for the project.

Instead, the company has a number of private investors who have given conditional commitment for permanent financing – conditional upon the level of local commitment from local dairy farmers to supply the plant with manure.

The cost of the facility would be determined by size in proportion to commitment from local dairymen. The plant needs a commitment for manure from 210,000 cattle.

“With a half-million dairy cattle in the Magic Valley, that should be plenty,” Hessing said.

Environ partners took down names of dairy farmers who would be interested in discussing giving the plant manure.

“For those of you who have some of that you need to get rid of, we will talk to you,” Hessing said.

Residue from anaerobic digesters could also be taken, he said.

The plant does not plan to charge for taking the manure, but also will not pay dairies for it, said Todd Jaynes, a partner in the effort.

The facility would employ about 40 people with jobs that pay at least $8 an hour, Environ partners said.

Similar plants are being operated in other parts of the country, Hessing said.

“But they do not have the proprietary technology,” he said.

Environ’s patented technology would produce about 10 times the energy from identical feedstock loads as less-efficient anaerobic digesters, which require disposition of contaminating residue, Environ says.

The technology would also eliminate offensive odor, Hessing said.

Hessing said he could not give technology or cost details of the project because of a non-disclosure agreement with project engineers.

Project engineers were planning to attend the meeting and give the details, but an accidental death in the family prevented engineers from attending the meeting, Hessing said.

Jerry Linch, who attended the informational meeting, asked if the factory would look like a refinery. Hessing said it would look more like a small manufacturing plant.

There would be no smoke, and the factory would not use a chemical or bacteria process, he said.

“We’re in the business of cleaning up pollution, not making it,” he said.

Scott Bybee, Jerome city engineer, commented on savings for the city.

“It could potentially save us some," he said. "We have to pay the landfill to do it. We’re always looking at innovative ways to save money.”