In an effort to assist in the reduction of greenhouse gasses, Oregon’s largest dairy farm, Threemile Canyon Farms in Boardman, Oregon, will begin testing a methane-fueled energy system beginning March 2009. According to MSNBC, the $1 million methane digesting technology will be utilized to power all dairy operations. In addition, the dairy can substitute methane for propane use as well.
The project is funded by NW Natural and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, both of which will receive half of the capital costs of the project back in state energy tax credits over the next five years. NW Natural hopes to utilize the methane digesting technology for it’s own natural gas services once thorough impurity-removal processes have been developed.