Feasibility Paper

Feasibility Report

of a

Cooperative Dairy

Manure Management

Project in

St. Albans/Swanton, VT

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Foods, & Markets

And The

Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont

Developed by:

Spencer Bennett, MS

P.O. Box 517,

Henniker, NH 03242

603-428-3851

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets

Cooperative Manure Management Report for St. Albans/Swanton, VT

Page 2

Foreword:

We find this to be an exciting project with significant potential and wish to express our thanks to

Spencer Bennett and all those who helped make this report possible. With apologies to any we

may miss we wish to thank the following:

The farmers of the St. Albans Bay area

Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont

Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services

Vermont Department of Corrections

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

Vermont Public Service Department

USDA Rural Development

Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation

Co-Coordinators

Connie Stanley-Little, EDCNV

Daniel Scruton, VAAFM

This report was funded by a grant from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

with monies provided by the Vermont Public Service Department through funding from US DOE

secured by Senator Jeffords. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not

necessarily represent the position of State of Vermont or the Economic Development Council of

Northern Vermont.

_____________________________________________________________________

APPENDICES:

A. Primer on Anaerobic Digestion of Dairy Wastes .....................................32

B. Map of Dairy Operations in the St. Albans/Swanton area of Vermont...........33

C. Census of Select Farms in the St. Albans/Swanton area of Vermont............34

D. Transportation Time and Costs: Central Digester Alternatives....................35

E. Farm Modification Budget....................................................................37

F. Capital Costs....................................................................................38

G. Operating Costs: Alternate A..........................................................39

Alternate B..........................................................40

Alternate C.........................................................41

Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets

Cooperative Manure Management Report for St. Albans/Swanton, VT

Page 3

Table Of Contents

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY....................................................................... 4

2. BACKGROUND .................................................................................... 4

3. CURRENT SITUATION......................................................................... 6

3.1 DAIRY FARMS' SITUATION ......................................................................................6

3.2 CURRENT STATE OF VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ENERGY CONDITIONS

AT THE ST. ALBANS FACILITY..........................................................................................7

4. MANURE MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES....................................... 9

4.1 POTENTIAL MANURE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES ...............................................9

4.2 CENTRAL VERSUS INDIVIDUAL DIGESTERS............................................................10

4.3 RANGE OF DIGESTER CONFIGURATIONS ...............................................................12

4.4 MANURE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES..........................................................13

4.5 INTEGRATION WITH THE VT DOC CORRECTIONAL FACILITY ...................................18

4.6 BY-PRODUCTS OF DIGESTION ..............................................................................19

4.7 REGULATORY ISSUES..........................................................................................20

5. COMPARISON OF OPTIONS............................................................. 20

5.1 PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS .....................................................................................20

5.2 FINANCIAL ISSUES ..............................................................................................23

5.3 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.....................................................................................27

5.4 COMMUNITY ISSUES............................................................................................28

5.5