TOWN OF HOLLAND, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A vote is expected to be taken Monday on a $60 million manure digester system proposed for a rural Brown County community.
Residents say the plan has divided the Town of Holland.
The plant is proposed for the southwest corner of Old 57 Road and Lamers-Clancy Road.
The interest in the manure treatment plant BC Organics is trying to bring build forced a public hearing on it Thursday evening to be held in a Van Abel’s of Hollandtown banquet hall instead of the town hall.
“Ultimately the goal is to improve the sustainability of the neighboring farms while improving the soil and water conservation practices,” said Dan Nemke of Dynamic Holding Inc, the parent company of BC Organics.
Seven farms are signed up to transport their manure to the digester. The two largest farms, accounting for 83 percent of the manure, would use a pipe for transportation. The remaining 17 percent would be trucked.
Nemke tells FOX 11 half the manure put through the digester would be returned to the farms. Other manure would be turned into natural gas, liquid fertilizer, and dried fiber
“So overall, the project is looking at trying to reduce the volume of manure that needs to be land occupied by at least 50 percent.”
Town of Holland supervisor Mike Geiger tells FOX he has concerns.
“Basically, I’ve been told you can’t cook poop to 95 to 100 degrees and not have a smell. I think anyone who is in the farming industry knows that.”
Residents opposed to the project are worried about the plant’s odors, truck traffic, and issues from other digesters. The plant was originally supposed to be located in Kewaunee County.
“Every one of the systems that we looked at had failed, either economically or they had been either shut down by the community itself due to odor concerns, or the project literally blew up,” said Lee Luft, a Kewaunee County Supervisor.
Supporters say successful digesters can be found in Kewaunee County.
“I don’t know why you can’t point to that and say this technology has been very successful for that farm and that farm is now participating in a project where they’re getting paid for their gas,” said Robert Levine of Digested Organics.
Project opponents also don’t like that a state grant could provide up to $15 million for the plant, yet it won’t contribute to the tax base because it’s being built on county land. However, BC Organics says it has offered annual payments to offset the lack of tax revenue.
The company also says it would help pay for a new town hall.
The Town of Holland votes on Monday is for a conditional use permit. The company is still in the process of obtaining other state and county permits.
BC Organics says it would like to start construction by the end of the year and be operational by the end of 2020.
