My original title was "Methane Digesters Offer Benefits and Challenges" to reflect somewhat the title and purpose of the talk: “Methane Digesters: Fact and Fiction.” The speaker was James Poehling, a Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design (LEED) certified and registered professional engineer in Wisconsin for over 30 years. Poehling discussed the science behind digesters-which can convert waste without oxygen (anaerobically) into energy-and talked about the pros and cons of such systems on “concentrated animal feeding operation” or CAFO farms as well as smaller opperations.

Here in the US, there are about 1,600 digesters at use in industrial settings and around 200 on farms. Some flare the methane to cash in on carbon offset credits. Others find ways to convert methane to energy and send it back into the grid, in essence selling electricity. The City Brewery in La Crosse has had a digester for about 12 years. In January, Gunderson Lutheran announced plans to work with City Brewery to pipe the methane to an engine to generate electricity which could power up to 280 homes. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced in March he wants to spend $6.6 million in state money on manure digesters in Waunakee and Middleton. The Waunakee digester will be a regional digester, not a single farm affair. It will also remove phosphorous from the waste, helping to prevent water pollution.

The Coulee Region Sierra Club's Clean Energy Coalition will sponsor a talk on this topic by Mr. Poehling and the owner of the Wild Rose Dairy, Art Thelen, as well as Niel Kennebeck of Dairyland Power, on April 30, 2009 at 7p.m. in the Ho-Chunk Three River's House (basement) 8th and Main St. in La Crosse.
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