Environment Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6503
AN ACT CONCERNING THE SITING OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION FACILITIES
Title: ON FARMS.
Vote Date: 3/31/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/19/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Rep. Dorinda Borer, 115th Dist.
Rep. Jaime S. Foster, 57th Dist.
Rep. Maria P. Horn, 64th Dist.
Rep. Patrick S. Boyd, 50th Dist.
Rep. Jennifer Leeper, 132nd Dist.
Rep. Anthony L. Nolan, 39th Dist.
Sen. Saud Anwar, 3rd Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
Oakridge Dairy, Ellington, one of the largest dairies in Connecticut, is a successful five
generation business. One of the long-term efforts for Oakridge dairy has been to build an on
farm anaerobic digester. The effort has been an extremely "burdensome and time-
consuming permitting process". The process has been detrimental that engineer with prior
experience in building anaerobic digesters in other states are unwilling to take on the project.
Substitute Language LCO No. 6221
Removed lines 26 and 27 from Raised Bill. Removed lines 79 and 80 from Raised Bill.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Katie Dykes, Commissioner, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) supports installation of on-farm
Anaerobic Digesters and streamline the permitting process. DEEP has prepared an
Anaerobic Digester Factsheet to apply for plan and preparation of permit applications. DEEP
opposes HB6503 as the regulatory safeguards that protect farmland and the environment has
been removed. The bill eliminates the quality and sources of organic waste to be applied to
the farm environment, which may contain certain chemicals and be a hazard. HB6503
proposes a ninety-day limit for DEEP to review and approve or deny a solid waste application
that is triggered and submitted. Ninety days is inadequate to conduct regulatory applications.
Brian Hurlburt, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture
Department of Agriculture (DOAG) supports the diversion of food and farm waste stream
reduction through recycling and clean energy production. Farm-based anaerobic digestion of
manure presents the opportunity to break down manure, food scraps and wastewater
biosolids to generate biogas and used to create electricity of fed directly into a natural gas
pipeline.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Jaime Foster, Representative, CT House of Representatives
HB6503 is to streamline and accelerate the permitting process of anaerobic digesters.
Oakridge Dairy, a five-generation family owned business in Ellington, is the state's largest
dairy farm. Oakridge has long attempted to build an on-site anaerobic digestion, but the
process is proving time-consuming and extremely burdensome. Oakridge, like many farms,
relies on a healthy environment to excel and good stewards of the environment.
Lisa Thomas, Councilwoman, Town of Coventry
Hytone Farms, in Coventry, is in process of seeking a permit for an anaerobic digester.
Hytone seeks the opportunity to keep itself running, even with the challenges posed by the
economics of farming. Anaerobic digesters manage farm-generated organic waste and
manure with the capability to increase revenue by selling renewable energy created.
Anaerobic digesters help the farm, create revenue and help the environment.
Joan Nichols, Executive Director, Connecticut Farm Bureau Association
Public Act 19-35 exempted farm anaerobic digesters from requirement to obtain a DEEP
solid waste permit. PA19-35 set the fuel of a farm anaerobic digester with no less than 50%
farm-generated organic waste and not more than 5% from food waste. HB6503 provides
farms the ability to procure additional food wasted and remain under the exemption of PA19-
Page 2 of 3 HB-6503
35. The proposed legislation changes for additional food waste fall under the United Stated
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP)
unique to the animal feed operations and maintains compliance with environmental
requirements.
Brian Paganini, Vice President, Quantum Biopower Southington, LLC
Quantum met with DEEP to discuss permitting of anaerobic digesters and farm digesters and
has specific changes to HB6503. Quantum supports the current regulatory rule to require
farm digesters to be fueled by fifty percent by volume of farm-generated organic waste.
Quantum has no issue with up to a fifty percent fuel by organic scraps set by and adjusted by
DEEP to offset the cost of an anaerobic digester. Quantum recommends organics waste
generated off-site be "source separated", which means there is no packaging in the material.
The purpose of "source separated" prevents farms from turning into a solid waste operation
and keeps consistency between permitting and the waste material required.
Kies Orr, Fort Hill Farms, Thompson CT
Fourth generation farmer in Thompson CT. Fort Hill Farms installed an anerobic digester in
2020. The permitting process was extremely difficult as there are several steps in the
permitting process to go through. Ms. Orr states " I think the permitting was the toughest
every time we turned around; there was another hurdle after we thought we were good." Fort
Hill Farms supports the changes in HB6503 to make future permitting anaerobic digesters
easier and allow organic waste from off the farm taken in as long as it conforms to the USDA
comprehensive nutrient management program.
The Environment Committee did not receive any additional support testimonials for HB6503.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None
Reported by: Steve Smith Date: 4/15/2021
Page 3 of 3 HB-6503


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 528:
File No. 625:
Public Act No. 21-16: