Harmony Dairy Implements Manure Lagoon Cover to Enhance Energy Production
Harmony Dairy in Mount Vernon is the first farm in Western Washington to install a manure lagoon cover, enhancing methane capture. The initiative aims to generate an additional 1 million kilowatt-hours of electricity for the local power grid.
Harmony Dairy has installed a 32,000-square-foot manure lagoon cover, marking a significant advancement in methane management at the farm. This cover, which retains gas, is expected to boost electricity production by 1 million kilowatt-hours annually, contributing to the Puget Sound Energy grid.
The project, estimated at $350,000, was funded mainly through state grants. Previously, the farm converted waste from its 1,300 cows into energy but needed to flare excess gas due to limited digester capacity.
The lagoon cover is anticipated to improve compliance with air quality regulations and reduce environmental impacts. As the farm cannot store energy, it sells electricity at a lower price than it buys it back for operational needs, highlighting a financial challenge.
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