Enumclaw cow manure to power 600 homes

Brian and Christie DeGroot own a dairy farm just outside of Enumclaw. Brian is a third-generation dairy farmer, and lately he’s been struggling. Milk prices are low, while feed has gotten more expensive.

That’s why they’re excited about a cow manure processor coming to the Enumclaw plateau.

“Money in my pocket,” Christie said.

The processor, known as a digester, will take his farm’s manure free of charge, eliminating his need to treat the million gallons of sewage his cows produce, which can cost him up to $3,000 per month.

On Monday, county and power officials, and farmers, broke ground on the digester. It will turn the manure from five Enumclaw-area dairies into methane gas, which will be converted to electricity and sold to Puget Sound Energy. It’s expected to power 600 homes.

“It’s a win-win for everyone – the environment, for us as dairy farmers, cost-wise,” Christie said.

Due to chronic low milk prices and higher costs for feed and fertilizer, the number of dairy farms in King County has declined over the past three years. That makes the company that owns and operates the digester, Farm Power Northwest, a little nervous.

Kevin Maas with Farm Power says he’s taking a risk, but he has faith in King County’s remaining dairy farmers.

“Those who are still in business, they’re good farmers,” Maas said. “They know what it takes to survive in hard times.”

The digester is due to be completed by next summer.