By Hilary Maynard, The Courier-Herald

King County Executive Ron Sims' proposal to turn cow manure into electricity - a plan centered on the Enumclaw Plateau - is still on track.

"Executive Sims has repeatedly endorsed the project and wants us to move forward," said Kevin Owens, energy manager for King County.

According to Owens, a recent study on the best way to deal with dairy waste has opened the door for improved air quality, water reuse, a practical guide to waste management and the business venture of "green" energy. "Right now, we're still validating the assumptions made in the study and researching what business models make sense," Owens said. "Then we can start to plan the implementation of a manure methane gas 'digester.'"

Owens said the manure digester - the heart of the system - is planned for the Enumclaw area, where a number of King County dairies are located. The manure would be trucked from the dairies to the centralized location of the digester. The plant would heat the manure to approximately 135 degrees Fahrenheit, cooking it so bacteria could break down the manure, killing the pathogens inside. From there, solid and liquid would be separated. The liquid would go through extensive filtration, making the water potentially reusable; some would be diverted to the White River, the rest used as a liquid organic fertilizer. The solid waste would be used as a bio-solid fertilizer.

"We would end up with high-quality, organic fertilizer," Owens said. "Farm odor would be reduced, waste management would increase and there is potential for water reuse and energy projection." Owens said the digester itself would run off of "green" energy. "Gas would be piped to a generator on site," Owens said. "We're talking to energy suppliers about their interest in green energy."

Owens said the study shed a great deal of light on the topic of waste management in King County. He now believes the benefits of the county plan are tremendous. "We haven't identified a lot of 'cons,'" Owens said.

On the dairy front, Enumclaw residents Janet Baker and her husband Bob grew up on the farm and now manage a herd of about 350. The Bakers participated in the study of potential waste management and green energy. According to Janet Baker, the study evolved over time. "We were approached by this consultant, along with a number of other dairies up here for a methane digester," Baker said.

She said farmers recognize the benefits of odor control and manure management. "With land prices being what they are, it's hard for dairies to have enough land for the manure," Baker said. While she generally supports the digester, she is concerned about what it will cost the dairy farmers to belong to such a project. "You can't get manure hauled away for free," Baker said. "Some dairies might no be able to afford to belong. It hasn't been a real easy time the last 18 months. Some have left the business altogether."

According to Owens, the project is likely to succeed as long as the costs of building, running and maintaining the digester don't outweigh the benefits of having it. "It's got to be cost effective," Owens said.