Jerome County Digester

 Turning manure into millions!! Don’t we wish but turning it into something useful is going on down in Jerome County. I’m David Sparks and I’ll be right back with that report. Well over a year ago I did a story on a California company that said they would put up the money for any CAFO operation that was big enough, and install an anaerobic digester. In return, the company would take a large portion of the electrical power that these digesters generate and would also give the CAFO operation some of the profit.

 I remember thinking is this too good to be true. It’s like the old expression about trying to make the best out of a bad situation…making chicken salad out of chicken (you know what!) Well the folks in Jerome County have bought into this whole concept and have recently voted to amend the zoning ordinance in an effort to let this non-conventional energy production without a special use permit, which is currently required. Jerome County Commissioner and Chairman of the Board, Catherin Roemer says it was an act of faith: “Leave it to man to be innovative. If he’s given the freedom to do so, he can certainly be innovative to solve problems.”

Yee of little faith…keep the faith like they do in Jerome County.