Tri-City Sun

State Representative Jerry Neyer has led the successful passage of a plan in the House aimed at maintaining the operation of methane digesters in Michigan. This comes after regulatory changes by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) affected these renewable energy facilities, particularly impacting medium to large-sized farming operations.

"Our commonsense plan lays out an alternative pathway to expand energy production options in Michigan," said Neyer, R-Shepherd. "I'm glad my colleagues on both sides of the aisle recognized the economic boom these digestors can be for Michigan farmers and energy producers. This legislation is simple; we're just ensuring that EGLE is making its decisions based on nationally accepted standards and allowing producers to remain consistent with GAAMPs, another rulebook that farmers have been using for over three decades."

Projections suggest that nearly 600 digesters could be added in Michigan if state law changes, potentially generating over $14.5 billion in local investments.

House Bills 4257 and 4265 propose a regulatory framework for commercial and co-owned anaerobic digesters. These facilities process organic waste products to capture methane gas during decomposition, which is then used to power homes, industries, and the electric grid. The residual material, known as digestate, serves as organic fertilizer.

Currently, state regulators classify the byproduct from methane digesters used as natural fertilizer as toxic waste for co-owned and commercial operations. Single-farm digesters continue to follow guidelines under manure classification.

The bipartisan legislation seeks to clearly define this class of methane digesters within state law. It proposes regulating inputs, requiring quarterly testing, and monitoring outputs to ensure access for co-owned and commercial operations.

The proposal now advances to the Senate for further review.