September 15, 2005

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Representative Tom Petri reports that an $87,425 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant has been approved for the Bonde Acres Dairy of Newton. "The funds will be used to help purchase and install an anaerobic digester which will process manure to produce methane gas to power an electric turbine," Petri said. "The dairy will use some of the electricity, and the remainder will be sold over the power grid as 'green' renewable energy."

Petri said that in addition to energy production, the project would reduce manure odors, would help control flies and would kill weed seeds in the manure. In addition to the grant, the dairy is investing $262,275 in the project.