• how offsets work
  • why carbon offsets
  • how we are different
  • Your Choices
  • FAQ's
  • Additionality
  • How We Calculate
  • more you can do
  • 
• our carbon projects
  • Community-based Renewable Energy
    • Wray School District Wind Turbine
    • Alex Little Soldier Wind Turbine
    • Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation Demonstration Wind Turbine Project
    • Toksook Bay Alaska Native Village Wind Turbines
    • Kasigluk Alaska Native Village Wind Turbines
    • Essex Junction Municipal Biogas Generator
    • The Boulder Creek Hydro Project
    • Farmer Distributed Wind
    • 
  • Farm Methane Power
    • Brubaker Family Dairy Farm Methane Project
    • Wanner Family Dairy Farm Methane Project
    • Hillcrest Saylor Family Dairy Farm Methane Project
    • Schrack Family Farm Methane Project
    • Dovan Family Farm Methane Project
    • Penn England Family Dairy Farm Methane Project
    • 
  • Solar
    • Stonyfield Farm Solar Array, the largest in New Hampshire
    • 
  • Biomass
    • Colonie Landfill Gas to Energy Project
    • 
  • Transportation Efficiency
    • Cascade Sierra Solutions Trucking Efficiency Project
    • 
  • 
• in the news
• about global warming
• more from NativeEnergy
  • Vintage Carbon Offsets
  • CoolWatts
  • 
• home

Brubaker Family Dairy Farm Methane Project

Brubaker Farms Family Dairy Farm Methane Project

The Brubaker family farm, founded in Mt. Joy, PA in 1929, has a history of environmental stewardship in its farming efforts. The Brubaker family sponsors local events that promote environmental efforts at the farm, and also holds educational tours for local community members. In 2003, NativeEnergy began working with the Pennsylvania Biomass Working Group to help support the state's digester initiative. In 2004, we began discussions with the farm regarding funding support for their planned manure anaerobic digester project. The farm was awarded grant money from the State of Pennsylvania in 2005 and then funds from the US Department of Agriculture in 2007. Our discussions with the Brubakers continued, and after exploring other alternatives, the Brubakers selected NativeEnergy to purchase upfront the carbon emission reductions and RECs associated with the operation of the digester and generator. This additional funding from NativeEnergy allowed for the Brubaker family to successfully complete the project financing.

As Michael Brubaker explains, "We were fortunate to receive the two grants, however we were still concerned about the risk involved in the $367,000 remaining in the project. Our farm would be similar to many farms in that it is "land rich, cash poor". Factoring that amount of money into the cash flow drastically affected profitability. When we learned of the potential revenues from the REC and carbon credits, we felt it was the final piece of the puzzle that was needed to go ahead with the project. This final portion of the funding is exactly what was needed to insure a quicker payback and better rate of return without putting an excessive burden of debt on the rest of the farm."

The Brubaker family farm methane digester produces renewable energy, some of which is delivered to the local electric power grid. The digester also powers a portion of the farm's operations. Additionally, excess heat from the electric generator engine is used to heat the farm buildings, reducing the farm's fossil fuel use. Brubaker Farms is among the first to receive the Pennsylvania Environmental Agricultural Conservation Certification of Excellence. The farm received the National Environmental Stewardship Award in 1999 and a major livestock award in 2000.

The project is a good example of a working and successful farming operation that is a responsible steward of the environment, an active member of the local community, and able to co-exist in an area that is experiencing a growth in residential development.