WSU Energy ProgramOur WorkRenewable EnergyDairy Digester Technical Assistance Group

Dairy Digester Technical Assistance Group

Welcome to the WSU’s Dairy Digester Technical Assistance Group, where WSU works with stakeholders in the dairy, clean energy, and regulatory communities to improve the function of dairy digesters and the constellation of systems that support and benefit from their operation. Anaerobic digesters are designed to capture methane from the decomposition of manure, pre-consumer food wastes, and other organics to produce clean heat and power while improving air and water quality. In addition to providing waste management solutions, digesters generate useful products that are renewable: electricity, fuels, fertilizers, or animal bedding.

The Washington State Department of Commerce was appropriated $13.2 million in 2025 to establish the Dairy Digester Grant Program, which is funding efforts to build, repair and upgrade digesters. Additional funding was provided to WSU to provide technical assistance to support Washington’s grant program; dairies; digester developers, owners and operators; and state, local and tribal policymakers. 

This program is a collaboration between WSU’s Energy Program, Center for Sustaining Agriculture & Natural Resources, and The Department of Animal Sciences. For more information, or to request technical assistance, please contact Program Coordinator Matt Booth at matthew.booth@wsu.edu.

The Dairy Digester Technical Assistance Program is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, via the Washington Department of Commerce. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.”

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