Bipartisan legislation would secure use of methane digestors for energy production

State Reps. Jerry Neyer and Joey Andrews on Tuesday announced their plan to ensure the continued operation of methane digesters in Michigan. Recent regulatory changes by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) have significantly impacted the viability of the renewable energy facilities, specifically their use by medium to large-sized farming operations.

“In today’s day and age, there is an increased demand for green energy products but a vastly limited supply, creating a problematic gap in green energy production – methane digesters can be part of the solution,” said Neyer, R-Shepherd. “The ability to take the gas from decomposing compostable material and feed that into our natural gas supply simultaneously supports renewable energy and our livestock producers. Farmers don’t want to give up their land for solar panels or windmills, but there is always plenty of crap to go around.”

Methane digesters convert organic waste into biogas for heat, electricity, and natural gas. Digesters are particularly important to farmers as they provide a sustainable source of fertilizer.

State regulators classified the byproduct of methane digesters – used for natural fertilizer – as toxic waste. However, this only applies to co-owned and commercial operations. Single-farm digesters still follow the safety and application guidelines under the manure classification.

“For methane digesters to succeed in Michigan, they need clear, predictable timelines for approval,” said Andrews, D-St. Joseph. “This legislation ensures that facilities aren’t held up by delays, requiring permitting decisions within 180 days. When digesters can operate with certainty, they can better contribute to our clean energy goals, support farmers, and keep waste out of landfills while making it easier to do business in our state.”

The bipartisan legislation, House Bills 4257 and 4265, would clearly define methane digesters in state law, ensuring access for co-owned and commercial farms. The bills would also set commonsense procedures for registering and operating such facilities in Michigan.

“If our government ever wants to meet its self-imposed green energy mandates, it needs to foster collaborative solutions,” Neyer said. “Instead, restrictive rules like what we’ve recently seen from EGLE drastically limit the potential output of renewable energy. We need to cut this bureaucratic red tape and ensure farms of all sizes can continue to support renewable energy production and access natural fertilizer.”

The legislation was referred to the House Agriculture Committee for further consideration.

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