By Blake Jackson
Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) Secretary Russell Redding visited Penn England Farms in Blair County to promote the Governor’s “Lightning Plan,” an energy initiative designed to lower costs for farmers and rural communities across Pennsylvania. The plan focuses on leveraging renewable energy sources to enhance agricultural sustainability and economic viability.
Penn England Farms, a dairy operation, utilizes an on-site manure digester to convert waste into clean energy, significantly reducing pollution and powering their farm.
This technology has saved them $1.6 million since 2006, averaging $90,000 annually. Governor Shapiro’s plan aims to make such technology more accessible through community energy proposals, allowing multiple farms to share digesters, reduce costs, and sell excess energy back to the grid.
"Pennsylvania has always been a leader in energy and agriculture two industries that power our economy. If we want to stay competitive, we need to invest in both," said Governor Shapiro.
“My Lightning Plan will cut red tape, speed up next-generation energy projects, and lower costs for consumers. By expanding community energy efforts, we’ll help farmers share resources, reduce costs, and generate new revenue-creating a stronger, more sustainable rural economy. I look forward to working with both Democrats and Republicans in the General Assembly to get this done.”
The Lightning Plan encourages the sharing of energy resources like digesters, reducing upfront costs and utility bills. It also invests in renewable energy projects, including anaerobic digesters, hydropower, and solar, to create clean, reliable energy.
These investments are intended to support farmers, create energy jobs, and attract investment in rural areas, strengthening Pennsylvania’s clean energy sector.
Methane digesters, which convert manure into renewable natural gas and electricity, are central to this plan. They also produce organic fertilizer, enhancing farm sustainability and waste management.
While beneficial, the high upfront costs of digesters can be a barrier for many farmers. The community energy proposal seeks to address this by facilitating shared digester systems.
“Our family has spent generations producing high-quality milk while being responsible stewards of the land-that’s why we installed a digester,” said Yvette Longenecker, owner of Penn England Farms. “A digester allows us to turn something we already have-manure-into something valuable: renewable energy. It helps power our farm, reduces odors, improves water quality, and provides an additional revenue stream to keep our operation sustainable.”
Photo Credit: gettyimages-digitalvision
Categories: Pennsylvania, Government & Policy, Livestock