Mega manure digester project in Washington state meets community resistance

A contentious proposal by Oregon-based Pacific Ag to construct one of the nation's largest mega-manure digesters, named Sunnyside RNG, LLC, in Sunnyside, Washington, has ignited significant community resistance. Residents and local advocacy groups, including Friends of Toppenish Creek, fear the facility will exacerbate existing pollution problems in the Lower Yakima Valley, a region already burdened by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and high particulate matter pollution. Jean Mendoza, executive director of Friends of Toppenish Creek, expressed concerns that the project would incentivize an increase in cow populations and bring a "natural gas processing plant" into the city. Pacific Ag, represented by chief development officer Harrison Pettit, claims the project will reduce emissions, odors, and pollution by converting approximately 900,000 tons of manure annually from 43,000 dairy cows into 650,000 British thermal units of renewable natural gas (RNG), capturing 95% of methane emissions. However, critics like Kingsly McConnell, staff attorney at the Center for Food Safety, contend that Pacific Ag's emissions estimates are "severely underestimating" the cumulative impacts and that the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency's preliminary permit approval relies on "inaccurate data or outdated data" from 2014-2017. The agency, which deemed the facility a "minor" air emissions source, is awaiting a final permit decision. Further fueling the controversy, a Pacific Ag representative, Kipp Curtis, was observed texting derogatory comments about community members during a late March public hearing. Sunnyside Mayor Vicky Frausto publicly condemned Curtis's actions on Facebook, stating the community "will not backing down" against the project she believes was pushed without adequate local input. The development occurs as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended a national moratorium on loan guarantees for anaerobic digester projects through 2026, citing "persistent and escalating concerns" over loan delinquency and underperformance, notably mentioning BC Organics with over $100 million in delinquent loans.