By Blake Jackson
The Shapiro Administration is providing $971,006 through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) program to help Jubilee Dairy LLC install an anaerobic digester and combined heat and power system. The project will convert agricultural waste into renewable energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley and Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visited Jubilee Dairy, a 10th-generation dairy farm and cheese producer operated by the Nissley family, to highlight the investment and its potential benefits for sustainable agriculture.
The planned system will process manure, food waste, and other organic materials to produce biogas, which will power equipment generating electricity and heat for the farm. The process will also create digestate, a byproduct that can be used as fertilizer or animal bedding.
The project is expected to reduce Jubilee Dairy’s greenhouse gas emissions by 38%. Once fully operational, the system is anticipated to generate enough electricity to meet all the farm’s electricity needs, with additional heat available for use.
“The RISE PA program is excited to work with award recipients like the Nissley family, who are thinking innovatively about how they can save money on energy costs, reduce air pollution, and continue to grow their dairy farm and cheese business for their children and future generations,” said Secretary Shirley.
RISE PA is a $396 million statewide industrial decarbonization initiative funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants.
The program supports projects involving energy efficiency, renewable energy, electrification, and other technologies that reduce emissions at agricultural and industrial facilities.
“The Nissley family is a great example of the forward thinking and resourcefulness that have sustained Pennsylvania agriculture for generations,” said Secretary Redding.
“They are looking at what they have on their farm – from manure to food waste – and finding innovative ways to turn those resources into energy, reduce costs, and create new opportunities for their family’s 10th generation and beyond. Through investments like these, we are helping farm families build on their legacy while preparing Pennsylvania agriculture for the future.”
“For a 10th generation farming family, grant programs like RISE PA provide funding for projects that otherwise would not be possible,” said Kendra Nissley of Jubilee Dairy. “We appreciate both DEP and Agriculture for their support of our anaerobic digester project, and our farm. This project will help us continue the growth of our farm in a sustainable manner.”
The investment follows the administration’s April announcement of $267 million in first-round RISE PA grants.
The program supports businesses in reducing pollution, improving energy efficiency, controlling operating costs, and strengthening Pennsylvania’s economy while protecting air, land, and water resources.
Photo Credit: pacast
Categories: Pennsylvania, Business, Government & Policy