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Although still in the preliminary stages, a project which would turn organic waste from the Gaylord area into an energy source recently took another step forward.

The City of Gaylord, in conjunction with Michael Foods Egg Products Inc., has ordered a feasibility study for an Anaerobic Digester project.

In August, the West Central Region Clean Energy Resource Team (CERT) awarded the City of Gaylord a $7,550 grant for this clean energy project.

The grant money will be used for the feasibility study estimated to cost $10,000. According to Gaylord City Administrator Kevin McCann, Michael Foods Inc. recently agreed to pay $1,225 for the feasibility study. The City will pay the remaining cost, McCann explained.

In a news release from this past summer, CERT said it was looking for the best design for building a joint anaerobic digester that will treat wastewater from the city and surrounding agriculture businesses as well as generate marketable methane gas. The production of an environmentally friendly biogas to generate power is the expected outcome.

According to McCann, the City’s engineering firm, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH), applied for the grant on behalf of the City to investigate the feasibility of such a project.

According to Doug Parrott of SEH, the grant money will be used for a “very preliminary-type review” to determine if organic waste from area industries can be used to turn into a gas for an energy source. Not only would waste from Michael Foods be considered for this project but also neighboring communities’ industries such as Seneca Foods in Arlington, Parrott explained. The waste must be biodegradable.

Gaylord’s City Council, in a special meeting in August, approved the feasibility study. That approval was contingent upon Michael Foods’ willingness to contribute. McCann said the egg product company reported last month that it would contribute to the feasibility study.

At the special meeting in August, it appeared to be the consensus of the City Council that this was a project worth investigating.

Council member Dale Breuer believed the City’s cost for the feasibility study was “not much to pay to get good information.” Breuer called it a good investment.

Mayor Doug Quast viewed the project as an opportunity for the City and a chance to generate revenue.

Council member Carl Wetzel said he visited a facility in Benson, MN which turns turkey litter into electricity. He said that project has generated revenue of $500,000 per year for the City of Benson.