Delmarva Chicken Association backs Bioenergy Innovation Center waste-to-energy effort
Delmarva Chicken Association, a 1,600-member trade association for the chicken community, told the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control it supports a plan to build a self-contained anaerobic digester near Seaford, Del. The Bioenergy Innovation Center, proposed by Bioenergy Devco, would convert hatchery waste, poultry plant byproducts, and chicken-house litter - including manure - into natural gas and a soil conditioner in an enclosed, safe process. Bioenergy Devco operates dozens of similar plants in Europe, as well as an anaerobic digester for other waste streams in Jessup, Md. Other local organizations that have voiced support for the Bioenergy Innovation Center include Friends of the Nanticoke River and the Wicomico Environmental Trust.
"DCA and its members have been working tirelessly with DNREC for years to properly and sustainably manage poultry processing, hatchery, and litter outputs in an environmentally smart manner," DCA executive director Holly Porter wrote in written comments supporting the company's permit applications. "The proposed anaerobic digestion facility is in the right place at the right time. With tens of thousands of anaerobic digesters throughout the world, the DCA hopes you will approve this technology for the benefit of the chicken industry, our local economy, and the environmental health of the region."
Read DCA's full letter of support here. DNREC is accepting comments from the public on the Bioenergy Innovation Center's proposed permits through Friday, Dec. 2.
About Delmarva Chicken Association
Delmarva Chicken Association, founded in 1948, is the Delmarva chicken industry's voice as the premier membership association focusing on advocacy, education and member relations. DCA's vision is to be the most-respected chicken organization in the United States. For more information about the Delmarva Chicken Association, visit www.dcachicken.com or call 302-856-9037.