Animal Waste to Energy Proposals Sought in Maryland

17 October 2011

The governor of Maryland, Martin O'Malley is seeking proposals for the purchase of electricity generated from animal waste as part of the Clean Bay Power project to promote the use of renewable energy.

Under Maryland's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, electricity suppliers are required to purchase 20% of their power from clean energy sources by 2022.

Additionally, the governor says that the project will also reduce the amount of nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, which enter the Chesapeake Bay as agricultural runoff, and also encourage job creation.

According to a statement issued by O'Malley, the successful supplier must have an electric generating capacity of up to 10 MW from animal waste - such as poultry litter or livestock manure - and must be directly connected to the regional electricity grid.

Energy solicited through this request for proposals is limited to projects consuming animal waste as their primary fuel, and that also qualify under the current definition of a 'Tier I' renewable energy resource under the Maryland Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard.

"It is only through a diverse, renewable fuel mix that we will be able to reach our aggressive goal of generating 20% renewable energy by 2022, create jobs through innovation, and protect our precious environment," explains O'Malley. 

The Clean Bay Power project is a joint effort of the Maryland Department of General Services, the Maryland Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, the Maryland Energy Administration, and the University System of Maryland.

The selected supplier must begin providing electricity to the State by December 31, 2015. The deadline for proposal submission is 2 p.m., November 30, 2011.


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