Farm Manure-to-Energy Initiative

The Farm Manure-to-Energy Initiative was launched in 2012 to demonstrate and objectively evaluate manure-based energy systems operating on several private farms in the Chesapeake Bay region. As a collaborative multi-state effort, the Initiative included farmers in Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland, with project management and support from foundations, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, government agencies, and private businesses. Over the course of four years, thermal manure-based energy systems were developed and installed on five farms, and each was assessed for its technical, environmental, and financial performance.