The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is developing a new program, the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program, authorized by the Budget Act of 2014 (Chapter 25, Statutes of 2014).
CDFA was appropriated $12 million from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to provide financial assistance for the installation of dairy digesters in California, which will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions. CDFA will administer the program in two phases, beginning with Phase I, dairy digester development, and Phase II, research.
An estimated $11 million in competitive grant funding will be awarded to provide financial assistance for the implementation of dairy digesters that result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and provide other environmental benefits (Phase I). An estimated $500,000 will be made available for research and demonstration projects that improve the economic performance of dairy digesters (Phase II).
Three public stakeholder meetings have been scheduled in November to explain the new program and to receive comments and suggestions. For dates and locations visit the CDFA website. PD
—From the California Department of Food and Agriculture news release
