Turning Poop Into Power: Cali Dairies Appeal For More State Climate Change Money

Maas Energy Works (MEW), based in Redding is leading clusters of dairies in Merced and Denair in installation of “Dairy Digester” systems.

The purpose is converting manure to renewable natural gas that will be injected into utility pipelines. These projects are a collective investment exceeding $100 million. California has more dairy cows than any other state – approaching two million head. Dairies located in close proximity to each other makes it possible to connect their manure processing through a network of metered pipelines, eventually arriving at a shared treatment plant. “The Digester replicates a cow’s stomach to continue the digestion of manure,” explained Doug Bryant, MEW Communications Director. “The result is a 60 percent reduction of methane emissions and the resulting odors. Processing the manure from one cow is equal to four barrels of oil, or like taking the emissions of one car off the road.”

Originally Published by: Merced County Times

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