Will Turkeys Save Our Energy Crisis?

Benson, MN - Some day you may be reading The Business Journal by light created from electricity generated by burning turkey waste. Folks in Benson, MN are today.

A $200 million dollar waste incinerator has come on line that is providing 50,000 Minnesota homes with electricity. The plant provides nothing new in the mechanics of power production. The incinerator fires a steam generator that creates electricity the old fashioned way—what’s new is the fuel. The Benson, MN plant is the first in the country (the 4th in the world) to burn animal waste to produce electricity. The plant will burn used turkey litter (wood chips with turkey droppings).

Fibrominn has built the plant with the cooperation of the city of Benson and the state of Minnesota. A citizen’s advisory committee provides oversight.

Area turkey farmers are selling their turkey waste to the plant for 3 to 7 dollars a ton, providing additional income for the farmers. Minnesota is the largest turkey producer in the nation, so it is fitting that this test project occurs in the state.

Critics, like David Morris of the Institute for Self Reliance, argue that the waste is more valuable as fertilizer, and that the incinerator is not environmentally friendly. Animal rights activists are arguing that the conditions under which turkeys are raised is inhumane.

Turkey waste is an excellent organic fertilizer. But do we need an institute or a government entity telling us how it is of greater economic value? Shouldn’t the market determine where the best value lies? If it is more valuable as fertilizer, fertilizer consumers will pay more. Conversely, if it is more valuable as fuel, the plant will pay the highest premium. Minnesota’s turkey farmers should have the benefit of that market competition.

Claims that the incinerator is a polluter are offset by information from Fibrominn stating that the plant is cleaner burning than some of the new clean-burning coal technology. Certainly there is no such thing as an emissions-free incinerator, but if we are to meet future energy demands we need to consider all possibilities including all forms of cleaner burning incineration plants. State, local and federal government has the power to impose emissions requirements.

The animal rights activists’ claims are spurious. No one is raising turkeys for the purpose of creating electricity. The electricity is a by-product of agricultural production. Opening or closing turkey waste incinerators will have no impact on the numbers of turkeys raised in captivity, or on the conditions under which they are raised. Their beef is with agricultural producers, not the power producers, and they can have that fight.

What none of the critics are addressing in their criticisms is the issue of foreign energy independence. We all know that America’s dependence on foreign supplies of energy has led to entangling alliances and wars, as well as economic insecurity and volatility in the energy sector. Most US electricity is produced by burning natural gas of which we are a net importer.

We need to address our energy dependence while being mindful of the environmental implications. Finding the right balance may be difficult, but Minnesota has an opportunity to lead the way. Others are already beginning to follow. The California legislature has recently approved plans for the development of a chicken waste burning plant. Let’s do it, but do it right.