2011 NW Farm Energy Innovators
These 2011 NW Farm Energy Innovators were recognized at the Harvesting Clean Energy Conference in Boise Oct 23-25. They received their awards from Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter and then participated in a panel discussion led by Frank Priestley, President of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation.
Vander Haak Dairy Farm, Lynden WA
In 2004, the Vander Haak Dairy, a family owned and operated farm in Lynden, WA, took a financial and technological, but ultimately successful, risk by being the first dairy farm in the state to install a commercial anaerobic digester. This technology solves many of the common problems on a dairy farm by converting dairy manure into renewable energy and other value-added products, while also reducing odor problems and improving water quality. The system utilizes a patented plug flow digester that handles manure form three dairies and pre-consumed food waste to create renewable energy. Darryl Vander Haak has also taken the additional step of opening the farm to research on co-digestation and speaking publicly about the success of the operation.
Earl Fisher Boi-Fuels, Chester MT
Logan Fisher and Brett Earl, both commercial scale farmers, are working hard to realize their vision of a community scale biodiesel plant. Since its founding in 2006, Earl Fisher Biofuels has been manufacturing biodiesel from locally grown oilseed and off-quality virgin vegetable oil for local farmers, school districts, an underground mine, tour operators in Glacier National Park and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. While they have had growing pains and are not yet operating at full capacity, Earl Fisher Biofuels has kept its doors open, created jobs, produced fuel and shown the power of community leadership. Their business also helped trigger the location of the Montana State University-Northern certified biodiesel testing facility which provides Earl Fisher with access to cost-effective testing services and highly qualified researchers. Brett and Logan hope to create a sustainable business design for biodiesel plants that is replicable in other communities.
Madison Farms , Echo OR
Madison Farms, a fourth generation family farm located in Echo, OR, is on the forefront of sustainable energy. Kent Madison has worked to incorporate half of a 64 megawatt wind project, a 10 kilowatt and growing solar thermal system and a biodiesel plant into the daily workings of the farm. Additionally, Madison Farms has contracted with a local potato processing plant and a co-generating power plant to receive reuse water as an alternative to commercial fertilizer. Kent Madison has also developed long-term contracts with several Oregon cities to provide bio-solids for application to help stabilize sensitive range land areas and enhance the grazing capacity of those areas.
Heglar Creek Farms, Declo ID
Mike Garner and his partners at Heglar Creek Farms have pioneered the use of large-scale solar thermal on farms in the West. They have installed two separate solar thermal projects that are designed to reduce their propane consumption to heat hot water by 60%. The partners have also been early adapters of GPS technology for navigation of farm machinery. Through adopting this technology they have reduced fuel consumption, precisely applied nutrients and crop protection tools, and increased yields. Now, Heglar Creek Farms has shared this technology with neighboring farms and have been very open in providing information about their projects to help others follow their innovative example.
