Dairy digester program eir

No new state regulatory programs were developed that applied to the ten digesters constructed under the first round of DPPP funding, nor did local agencies develop any regulations that applied to the digesters.

Starting in , several counties began developing regulatory programs for dairies, but the regulations did not specifically address digesters. However, starting about , new regulatory programs were enacted that affected the construction of digesters at dairies.

Having to understand and comply with the new regulations was very challenging for proponents of digesters at dairies. The primary affect of the new regulations was to limit the amount of nitrogen oxides NOx that could be released by operation of engines used to power generators.

At the same time, the Central Valley RWB was developing a new regulatory program for dairies that included more stringent requirements for new lagoons such as those that could be covered to serve as an anaerobic digester. During the period that the Central Valley RWB regulations were under development, persons proposing to construct digesters at dairies in the Central Valley experienced frustrating delays in obtaining design approval from RWB staff.

At about the same time, Utility Districts developed policies for the purchase of excess electricity at rates that were more favorable to dairy operators. In May , the Central Valley RWB adopted general Waste Discharge Requirements WDR Order R for cow dairies; the Order includes requirements applicable to construction and operation of digesters, including application of digester effluent and other wastewater to cropland. Although the APCD and RWB requirements applicable to digesters were now clearly established, the difficulty and cost of complying with the requirements resulted in delays in getting the new digesters operating.

As of April , only one of the additional digesters was operational. In late , a few companies proposed to construct anaerobic digesters at dairies to produce biogas and treat the biogas for injection into Utility District natural gas pipelines. CDFA receives funding from California Climate Investments for methane emissions reductions from dairy and livestock operations.

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