Nic Rowe, representing ProAg Engineering in Jackson, MN was present at the Tuesday February 2 O’Brien County Supervisors meeting along with Lance Roorda with Roorda Dairy. Rowe reported that ProAg Engineering is working with several large dairies in the area to install anaerobic manure digesters. The project at the Roorda Dairy needed to request relief from setback requirements (separation waiver).
DNR regulations require agriculture activity to be set back from roads 100 feet. Other setback distances are imposed on different kinds of features like streams. Engineers determined that the best location for the digester project proposed for Roorda Dairy is west of an existing 3-stall barn. The 110-foot digester would inside the 100-foot setback from Oak Hill Road. They were asking for a waiver for that 100 feet. The project would be more like 70-80 feet from the road when complete.
Anaerobic manure digesters are covered facilities where manure from barns flows into and is stirred and heat-treated. The enclosure is covered with concrete walls. The treatment generates gas, which gets scrubbed and becomes a source of renewable natural gas and fertilizer in its final stage. Other potential locations had been considered, but the location between Oak Hill Road and the 3-stall barn was determined to be the best. The selected location will be 40 feet from the barn and 600 feet from the wells.
An outside company is expected to have an operating and maintenance contract for the digesters in the area. This one is 1 of 2 set for installation in O’Brien County. Van Ness Dairy was also named as a location to install a digester. It is the only one that is requesting any kind of waiver.
This project includes a NG pipeline into the Northern Natural Gas gasline. This kind of digester, if they work as designed, will provide solutions to manure waste and increase the supply of natural gas and put it right into the system.
The waiver was granted. Construction is anticipated to begin in summer or fall of 2021.