The Morrison County Board of Commissioners engaged in an hour of discussion around potentially allowing anaerobic digesters at its Tuesday, April 30 planning session. The proposal sparked robust debate as commissioners weighed its opportunities and challenges.
Anaerobic digesters convert biodegradable material like manure into biogas through decomposition in an oxygen-free environment. The current Morrison County land use ordinance does not have anything in it about anaerobic digesters. Because an upcoming land use ordinance amendment hearing is taking place Tuesday, May 14, the Board considered what regulations it would like to potentially add to the ordinance about anaerobic digesters.
Morrison County Land Services Director Amy Kowalzek first presented anaerobic digesters as a manure management option for the Board’s consideration. A local dairy producer is interested in installing a system to convert manure into renewable natural gas through an anaerobic digester.
Kowalzek outlined various anaerobic digester designs and explained how they offer benefits like reducing manure volumes for farmers while producing an income stream through the sale of produced natural gas. However, she acknowledged proper oversight is crucial.
The proposal only considered single stock, manure anaerobic digesters, as solid waste anaerobic digesters would need more discussion and coordination with the solid waste ordinance and plans. Furthermore, a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) would only be approved in the agriculture zoning district with 12 performance standards being met. These standards include: compliance with all rules and regulations; submission of an updated manure management plan; the site being served by a minor arterial or higher functional class of roadway; manure storage being on a stacking slab; submission of a transportation management plan if accepting manure from off-site feedlots; submission of an environmental management plan; not posing a potential pollution hazard; having adequate soil; submission of an emergency management plan; identifying any exterior lighting to not create a nuisance to neighboring properties; not having the hours of operation adversely impact adjacent property owners; and keeping grounds, buildings and structures free of insect and rodent harborage and infestation.
Commissioners grilled Kowalzek on many technical details and regulatory uncertainties. They probed how large centralized anaerobic digesters would acquire sufficient manure feedstock. Commissioner Jeffrey Jelinski worried this could increase hauling pressures on rural roads not built for heavy traffic.
Commissioner Greg Blaine also pointed out digesters may incentivize expanding animal operations beyond current caps. Nearby residents have voiced concerns that intensive manure applications could further stress aquifers facing nitrate issues. Commissioners sought reassurance about state regulatory and record keeping capacities.
Kowalzek said the reason for requiring a higher functional class of roadway for anaerobic digester sites unless given written permission by the responsible road authority was that the transportation of large quantities of manure to an anaerobic digester may put stress on inadequate roadways.
“I’m going to disagree with you,” Blaine said to Kowalzek. “This isn’t a ‘may,’ this is a ‘will.’ That will happen because you’re going to have to have manure hauled in probably regularly from you know other facilities to feed this digester out there. And so I think that when we look at inviting this kind of technology in the county, we have to take that into consideration that there will be demand on our road system out there and not ‘maybe.’ And I’m alright with that. We open our arms to economic development in the county, whether it’s manufacturing facilities, industrial plants, things like this, and we respond by addressing transportation needs, building roads, building access, building rail lines to help us support that kind of activity, but we have to know that going in, that these things are going to happen.”
The Board discussed its members’ duty to thoroughly understand all impacts, especially considering the county’s established water challenges. Although open-minded about the technology, consensus was that more information is imperative before local approval.
Commissioners proposed fact-finding missions to observe operational digesters across Minnesota. They want to learn from other counties grappling with similar regulatory complexities. Public input on local economic and environmental tradeoffs was also deemed important. Kowalzek proposed that the commissioners could visit a neighboring county’s anaerobic digester to see for themselves how one works.
After lengthy deliberation reflecting diverse viewpoints, the Board agreed to postpone a decision to after the Tuesday, May 14 land use ordinance amendment hearing. Kowalzek will coordinate educational outreach to address their diligent questions over the coming months. Commissioners aim to make the most informed choice regarding this novel proposal’s fit within Morrison County.
“At this point, you don’t know what you don’t know,” Kowalzek said.
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