Duff Honored by Farm Bureau Association

On Friday State Senator Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) was recognized by the Connecticut Farm Bureau Association for his work on farm energy issues during the 2013 legislative session. The organization presented Duff with their “2013 Legislative Award.”

As Senate Chairman of the General Assembly’s Energy & Technology Committee, Senator Duff led passage of legislation earlier this year to expand the state’s classification of Class I renewable energy resources to include anaerobic digesters, technology which harnesses biogas from agricultural waste to produce electricity. The new classification will enables those who own and operate anaerobic digesters to receive public support.

“I am very proud of what my colleagues and I were able to accomplish this year to provide Connecticut’s agricultural producers with new options for their energy needs, and to even become energy producers themselves. I believe anaerobic digestion will quickly become a great source of revenue for many farmers,” said Senator Duff in a release. 

“This technology has seen great success in Europe, and also yields significant environmental benefits by repurposing agricultural waste.”

Additional legislation sponsored by Senator Duff this year will enable agricultural producers of electricity to share billing credits for the surplus electricity they produce with up to ten other electric utility customers that either use electricity for agriculture, or are municipalities or non-commercial critical facilities (for example, hospitals, police and fire stations, and municipal centers). Such an arrangement will provide further financial support for owners of anaerobic digestion units. 

“Senator Duff took the time to listen and incorporate important provisions in the bill that will help farmers utilize on-farm energy technology to lower production costs and be more completive in the future,” said Henry Talmage, Executive Director of the Connecticut Farm Bureau Association in the release.