Farmers talk future energy plans, challenges in Pennsylvania

WILLIAMSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Governor Josh Shapiro (D-Pa.) visited a local farm to discuss his energy plan for the state and how farmers are continuing to play a key role in Pennsylvania being a national energy leader.
Penn England Farms in Williamsburg uses a methane digester to power their farm. They've used it for over 19 years.
'In that time, we've made over a million and a half dollars worth of electricity,' said Ben Postles, an employee at the farm. 'There's an income and stream to the farm because of the digester.'
The digester works by activating the bacteria in manure to produce methane. The methane is run through a generator to make electricity.
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Gov. Shapiro applauds the energy effort and said it is a key component of his newly proposed energy plan for the state, known as the Lightning Plan.
'I think it's time to go to the next level and that is to make sure that we are generating more power all across Pennsylvania with methane digesters and giving farmers the opportunity to band together to be able to create this energy opportunity,' Gov. Shapiro said.
Postles said the use of methane digesters ultimately goes beyond just generating revenue for farms and will benefit the entire community.
'It does help cut down on the odor of the manure, which which helps with community relations. You know, keeping our neighbors happy,' Postles said. It does change the manure a little bit that it makes it in a form that the crops can take it up quicker so there's an agronomic benefit that it's readily available for our crops once we apply it for fertilizer.'
Gov. Shapiro hopes the plan will create jobs, lower costs for consumers and protect Pa. from energy instability by incentivizing different industries to create alternative energy projects in the state. In January, Pittsburgh International Airport broke ground for a $1.5 billion proposed partnership between Keystate Energy and CNX Resources aimed at accelerating hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel production.
The Lightning Plan is currently in the hands of the state legislature awaiting approval.
But other farmers, like Karen Wilson of Blue Barn Farms, also in Williamsburg, said already existing federal efforts have left some farmers in a pinch. In December, Wilson installed 32 solar panels at her farm which were supposed to be reimbursed through a Rural Energy for America Program grant through the United States Department of Agriculture.
'We applied for the reimbursement on Jan. 23, but at that point, about right near that point, they shut everything down. So we didn't get a reimbursement,' Wilson said. 'There's a lot of farmers in the same boat that we are.'
Wilson said she is waiting on thousands of dollars promised to her through the grant program.
'We're at $16,000 right now which really hurts us. I had already ordered all of the seeds and fertilizers and everything like that. Right now, my help is not getting the raise that I was going to give them,' Wilson said.
Wilson is hopeful that money will come through soon. The cost of the panels is difficult for the small operation to absorb and the panels are too new for the farm to have turned a profit from surplus energy generation.
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