Project Description
Middlebury College will continue to reduce its carbon footprint thanks to an innovative partnership with Goodrich Family Farm in Salisbury, Vermont, Vanguard Renewables of Wellesley, Massachusetts, and VGS. Vanguard Renewables owns and operates the Farm Powered Anaerobic Digestion facility at Goodrich Family Farm where cow manure and food and beverage waste are combined to produce Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). The Goodrich Family Farm is a generational dairy farm with 900 milking cows and is a member of the Agri-Mark Cabot Creamery Cooperative.
Much of the renewable natural gas produced by the Goodrich Farm digester travels by pipeline to Middlebury College’s main power plant. Middlebury has agreed to purchase the bulk of the facility’s output as part of Middlebury’s Energy2028, a 10-year commitment to shift completely to renewable energy to power its central campus.
We are constantly looking for ways to make our energy sources sustainable and diverse. The digester project is a great opportunity to further decrease our use of carbon-based fuels.
— David Provost, executive vice president finance and administration, Middlebury College
The Farm Powered project at Goodrich Farm does more than produce renewable natural gas. The project features an extensive phosphorus removal system to protect the Otter Creek Watershed which feeds into Lake Champlain. Additionally, the facility will generate high quality, low carbon liquid fertilizer that will reduce the farm’s reliance on synthetic, chemical fertilizers. The farm will also benefit with reduced greenhouse gas emissions, animal bedding, and an annual lease payment for hosting the anaerobic digester facility.
FARM FACTS
- Generational Vermont dairy farm
Located in Salisbury, Vermont
Owned and operated by the Goodrich family
900 milking cows on site
1750 acres of hay
650 acres of corn
DIGESTER FACTS
Two 660,000-gallon capacity tanks
Phosphorus management system
Hydrolyzer
FARM BENEFITS
Income diversification via annual lease payment for land use
Liquid, low-carbon fertilizer to increase crop yields and reduce chemical fertilizer use
Separated solids for animal bedding
Phosphorus reduction to protect sensitive watershed area
Reduced GHG emissions
Annual Digester Input
Annual Digester Output
RNG and Electricity
Gas produced by the Farm Powered anaerobic digester will travel by pipeline to Middlebury College’s main power plant. Middlebury has agreed to purchase the bulk of the facility’s output as part of Middlebury’s Energy2028, a 10-year commitment to shift completely to renewable energy to power its central campus.
Goodrich Farm in the News
Vanguard breaks ground on food waste to energy project
System will help food producers and consumers comply with Vermont’s 2020 food waste ban.
Biomethane to Supply Vermont College with 50% of its Heating and Cooling Energy Needs
Vanguard Renewables has selected Kinsley Energy Systems to supply high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) for a new renewable energy project.
Energy 2028 update: College partners with Goodrich Farm on anaerobic digester project
Middlebury College broke ground on an anaerobic digester facility at the end of August, pushing the college towards its goal of using 100% renewable energy sources by 2028.
Milestones Reached as Vermont Gas, Vanguard Renewables Break Ground on Biogas-RNG Project
For many who attended the groundbreaking for the new dairy digester at Vermont’s Goodrich Farm, the sense of true celebration was palpable.