Bioenergy Devco the North American division of BTS Bioenergy, received permitting approval to construct its organics recycling facility at its Bioenergy Innovation Center near Seaford.
The center would process chicken waste in the Delmarva Region.
The expanded Bioenergy Innovation Center in Seaford will use anaerobic digestion to turn organic food waste into renewable natural gas and a soil amendment that will be composted onsite to be used in agriculture, horticulture projects and community gardens and more.
Bioenergy Devco’s 25-year history has built over 250 anaerobic digesters around Europe and the United States and manages 140 anaerobic digesters.
“The Bioenergy Innovation Center in Delaware is an excellent example of how we can harness renewable energy resources from recycling organic waste and simultaneously contribute to a more sustainable future,” said Bioenergy Devco’s CEO, Shawn Kreloff. “Organics recycling is a game-changer in our collective fight to protect our climate and prevent pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. By preventing organic waste from ending up in landfills, incinerators or being land-applied raw, anaerobic digestion reduces greenhouse emissions for cleaner air, averts runoff that endangers the ecosystems of our waterways, and generates a source of clean, renewable energy. For example, the anaerobic digestion process used at the Bioenergy Innovation Center can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, equivalent to taking nearly 19,000 gasoline-powered cars off the road annually.”
The Bioenergy Innovation Center received Resource Recovery, Air Quality Natural Minor and Wastewater Facility Construction permitting approvals from Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) on Sept. 6. Bioenergy Devco is planning to form an advisory committee for the project, aiming to incorporate feedback from community stakeholders.
The project generated intense opposition led by Washington, D.C.-based Food and Water Watch, which enlisted Delaware opponents who, among other things, cited alleged safety dangers and pollution. The organization harshly criticized DNREC’s decision, citing numerous people who spoke in opposition during a public hearing.
Other environmental groups supported the plant since it would reduce poultry litter runoff going into the Inland Bays and other areas.
