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Release Date: 1/19/17 Contact: Bill Cosh,
Communications Director
608-224-5020, William2.Cosh@wi.gov
MADISON – Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Secretary Ben Brancel is encouraging farmers to attend a seminar on February 1 to
learn more about the Request for Proposals for a manure biodigester system.
The seminar, offered by the Wisconsin Public Service
Commission, is scheduled 9:30 a.m, - 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1. It will be held
at the UW-Oshkosh Alumni Welcome & Conference Center.
"The seminar will be an excellent networking
opportunity for farmers who have questions about the RFP, says Secretary
Brancel, “Being able to meet one-on-one with the businesses looking to create a
consortium and invest in the project and learn how their farming operation
might benefit from participating as well as knowing the challenges will assist
in the decision making process.”
Registration is open until 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26. To
register, go to http://psc.wi.gov/biogas/events.htm. A three-question survey precedes the
registration screen.
Questions about the request for proposals for any of
the three agencies involved can also be submitted until 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan.
26. Send questions to OEI@wisconsin.gov.
“This project aligns with Governor Walker’s goal of
supporting the agriculture economy in the State while ensuring our natural
resources are safe and healthy. I hope that farmers and businesses will
seriously consider participating in this opportunity,” Brancel says.
In an effort to improve water quality, Governor Scott
Walker asked the PSC, DATCP, and DNR to partner and seek solutions through a request
for proposals late last year. The
collaboration resulted in a request for businesses and farmers to build,
operate, and maintain manure treatment systems to produce renewable energy in
the form of biogas and incorporate a system for treating wastewater that will
capture nutrients and reduce pathogens.
The RFP is available
on the homepage of the Public Service Commission or http://psc.wi.gov/biogas/rfp.htm.
To make this public-private project possible, the
Public Service Commission authorized Focus on Energy to spend up to $20 million
for integrated anaerobic digester projects that meet Focus on Energy
eligibility requirements.
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