Minnesota looking to transform food waste into energy

(St. Paul, MN) -- Minnesota is looking to add a new energy source to the State's power grid. Leftovers.

The energy source is called called an Anaerobic Digestor, which processes food and yard waste and turns it into fuel, similar to a stomach.

“Think about it like your stomach,” said Shakopee-based Dem-Con President Bill Keegan. “You put food in and you get liquids, gases and solids out. The gases are renewable natural gas, the liquids get reincorporated back into the process, and the solids get turned into biochar through a high-temperature process. The biochar can be turned into soil amendments, can be used for mediation projects, and also for carbon sequestration.”

The digestor is being proposed by Representative Athena Hollins in St. Paul, and is seeking a one time appropriation of $100 million to unlock an additional $30 million in federal tax credits and $40 million in private equity. It would produce enough energy to power 4,500 homes, or 1.7 million therms.