American Biogas Council 2016 Agricultural Project of the Year Awarded to Barstow’s Longview Farm
MassLive, November 1, 2016
The renewable energy strategic partnership between Barstow’s Longview Farm in Hadley, Vanguard Renewables and Eversource was awarded the 2016 American Biogas Council Agricultural Project of the Year, Eversource said Tuesday.
The Farm Powered anaerobic digester at Barstow’s combines farm waste and recycled food waste to produce more than 7,000 MWh of renewable energy per year for the Eversource grid, which is equivalent to the needs of 1,600 homes. The process offsets nearly 20,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
“Congratulations to Longview Farm on their award from the American Biogas Council and for the contribution to diversifying our energy portfolio and reducing our carbon footprint. They are truly leading the way towards our green energy future,” said State Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst.
The Barstow’s zero-waste Farm Powered anaerobic digester in Hadley coverts the energy potential from nearly 10,000 tons of manure and more than 20,000 tons of recycled food waste from supermarkets, food manufacturers, and institutional food users annually into electricity, heat, and hot water. The project produces enough energy to power the Cabot Creamery/Agri-Mark Cooperative butter production facility in West Springfield and provides reduced-cost power, heat, hot water, and organic fertilizer to the farm.
“This unique project is good for farmers, the environment and our region, as we continue to seek out new sources of reliable ‘green’ power,” said Craig Hallstrom, Regional Electric Operations President at Eversource. “Our experts have been there every step of the way, making sure this remarkable source of renewable energy is being safely and reliably delivered into the electric grid.”
The strategic partnership at Barstow’s is one of two farm-based anaerobic digester projects in Massachusetts owned and operated by Vanguard Renewables. Construction of a third Vanguard Renewables Farm Powered anaerobic digester project is complete and several others are under contract.
“We are delighted to play a role in demonstrating the combined power of modern farming practice and anaerobic digestion. In these troubling times of low milk prices and high energy and operational costs, it is so rewarding to work with the Barstow’s farm and other American farms on innovations to sustain them for the next generation,” says John Hanselman, Vanguard Renewables Executive Chairman.
The American Biogas Council 2016 Biogas Industry Awards were presented on October 18th at BioCycleREFOR16 in Orlando. The winners included five biogas systems, one innovation and one individual all recognized for their contributions to the growth of the U.S. biogas industry. In addition, 34 projects received the ABC’s first longevity awards given to biogas systems, which have been continuously operating for more than five years.
