Wisconsin Governor Doyle Announces Plan to Clean Dane County Lakes, Increase Renewable Energy

Working with County Executive Falk to Create Two Community Anaerobic Digesters

March 10, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced support for two community anaerobic digesters that will aid in efforts to clean Lake Mendota and increase production of renewable energy. Governor Doyle was joined at today’s event by Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, a leader in regional efforts to clean the area’s lakes and achieve energy independence. Governor Doyle is proposing $6.6 million in his capital budget to help fund the project.

“By providing support for these community anaerobic digesters, not only will we help clean our lakes, but will move forward on a clean energy future that will create jobs for hardworking Wisconsin families, protect our environment, and improve our security,” Governor Doyle said. “I’m pleased to work with County Executive Falk on this important initiative to ensure a cleaner and brighter future for our state for generations to come.”

“The Governor’s support of Dane County’s 'Cow Power Project' means green jobs, green energy, and blue lakes for our citizens to enjoy,” County Executive Kathleen Falk said. “We appreciate the opportunity to partner with the state to strengthen Dane County’s dairy industry.”

In 2007, Governor Doyle provided $1.5 million through the Focus on Energy Initiative to dairy farms wanting to install anaerobic digesters, helping make Wisconsin a national leader in individual farms using digesters to eliminate manure. Today’s announcement builds on this success, implementing it at the regional level.

Governor Doyle is working with County Executive Falk to create two community digesters in northern Dane County, one in Waunakee and one in Middleton. Their environmental and fiscal benefits include:

· Increasing dairy farms’ ability to expand by providing a mechanism to effectively and efficiently manage manure;
· Creating jobs for hardworking Wisconsin families to construct the digesters, run the digesters, and meet increased demand resulting from farms expanding operations;
· Eliminating an estimated 8,000 to 20,000 pounds of phosphorous per year per community digester from the Lake Mendota watershed;
· Reducing 12,000 tons of greenhouse gases each year per community digester;
· And generating $900,000 in annual revenue from renewable energy that will be produced by each digester.

Governor Doyle is committed to a clean energy future. His plan for energy independence includes: Generating 25 percent of our electricity and 25 percent of the fuels for our cars and trucks from renewable sources by the year 2025; capturing 10 percent of the market share for renewable energy and bioproducts, and utilizing Wisconsin’s tremendous capability for research to become the country’s leader in making alternative energies more affordable and available to all.

Source: Wisconsin Governor