The Ministry of Agriculture is inviting British Columbians to contribute to the development of two bylaw standards related to the creation of on-farm energy.

One bylaw standard will cover anaerobic digestion on farms in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and the other will cover combined heat and power co-generation in greenhouses in the ALR. Both systems present farmers possibilities to improve operating efficiency.

Anaerobic digestion systems use a combination of manure and organic materials to produce renewable energy in the form of methane gas. This methane gas can be upgraded to natural-gas quality or converted to electricity. A discussion paper and survey propose:

• Minimum farm size on using a system.
• Restrictions on the materials and their origins that can be used in the system.
• Planning, administrative and record-keeping requirements.
• Criteria for anaerobic digestion activities that would not require local-government rezoning.

This discussion paper and survey are available at: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/sf/anaerobic_digestion_in_ALR/index.htm

Greenhouse growers use natural gas-based combined heat and power co-generation systems to produce electricity, heat and carbon dioxide, which are used to fertilize greenhouse crops. A discussion paper and survey propose:

• Requirements that cogeneration production be commensurate with the heat demand on the farm and/or total greenhouse size.
• Minimum operating efficiency.
• Sites and management that minimize noise impacts.
• Criteria for cogeneration activities that would not require local-government rezoning.

This discussion paper and survey are available at: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/sf/co_generation_in_ALR/index.htm

Bylaw standards are not legally binding. Rather, they provide interested local governments with criteria on a topic, should they be interested in developing a bylaw. The call for public comments follows the distribution of the ministry's discussion papers to local governments and stakeholders.

Respondents are advised to familiarize themselves with the respective discussion paper prior to participating in the survey.

The surveys will be open until March 15, 2012. All comments will be included in the ministry's consideration in developing the bylaw standards.

Contact:

Sharon Dean
Communications Manager
Ministry of Agriculture
250 356-1674