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United States Department
of Agriculture • Rural Development
3001 Coolidge Rd. • 2nd Floor North • Suite 200 • East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: (517) 324-5204 • Fax: (517) 324-5225 •
alec.lloyd@mi.usda.gov
Contact: Alec Lloyd
(517) 324-5204
USDA Rural Development Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Fremont Community Digester
EAST LANSING, Oct. 10, 2012 – U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Rural Development State Director for Michigan James J. Turner today joined U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and local officials at the ribbon cutting for NOVI Energy’s Fremont Community Digester.
“I congratulate Novi Energy and the Community of Fremont on the completion of this renewable energy source,” Turner said. “Michigan abounds in opportunity to produce clean, reliable renewable energy. I commend INDUS Energy, North Central Cooperative and Novi Energy for showing us the way to that future.”
The project broke ground in June 2011 and is one of the first commercial-scale anaerobic digesters in the United States. It converts organic waste products – including farm and food processing waste – into biogas which is used to generate electricity.
The facility has the capacity to process more than 100,000 tons of waste annually, reducing landfill usage and improving the quality of agricultural runoff. In addition, the solid byproducts can be used for soil amendments and cow bedding.
The agency provided a $12,825,000 loan guarantee to finance the project, which has a total cost of $22 million.
USDA Rural Development State Director for Michigan James J. Turner was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009. USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America. Rural Development has an existing portfolio of more than $172 billion in loans and loan guarantees. Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov for additional information about the agency’s programs or to locate the USDA Rural Development office nearest you.
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