Top: Photo courtesy of Align RNG

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) have been exploring biogas potential in the state to fulfill their goal of broadening Iowa’s renewable energy base, creating new job opportunities, and diversifying farm markets by growing the renewable natural gas (RNG) industry. To help project developers manage “all the various components and complexities” of an RNG project, IEDA partnered with Des Moines (IA)-based EcoEngineers, a renewable energy consulting and auditing firm, to research, write, and distribute the Iowa Anaerobic Digester Resource Guide.

Overall process flow of an anaerobic digester

The goal of this Resource Guide, notes IEDA, is “to provide an introduction to anaerobic digestion (AD), anaerobic digesters, and the knowledge necessary to develop a successful project. Farm owners, energy service providers, state agencies and local government, community members, and other interested stakeholders will benefit from information provided in this handbook.” To assist financially, IFA’s Solid Waste Facility Revenue Bonds are designed to enable tax-exempt bonding for these types of projects. An upcoming multi-farm AD installation is receiving funding through the program, according to IFA, which explains that “this financing option can cover design through construction, including digesters and related equipment, gathering pipelines and gas-upgrading equipment.”  The initial interest rate is 1.5% annually, and IFA has additional bonding capacity as the AD industry expands. Download the Guide at this link.