FAGE and HDR present $30–$40 million anaerobic digestion plan; Planning Board agrees to lead SEQRA review

Representatives from HDR Engineering and FAGE Yogurt presented a proposal June 3 for an on-site anaerobic digestion facility intended to manage about 30 million gallons per year of acid whey currently trucked offsite.

Key project elements include converting whey into biogas to fuel production boilers, reducing truck traffic by up to an estimated 80 trips per week, producing a sludge cake byproduct that may be reused agriculturally, and discharging pre-treated liquid effluent to the city wastewater treatment plant. The minutes cite a project cost estimate of $30–40 million and a projected construction timeline of 18–24 months; the project would require a small team of full-time operators.

Environmental review remains outstanding: the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Army Corps issued a Positive Determination requiring further wetland evaluation and supplemental documentation. The Planning Board agreed to serve as SEQRA lead agency; a public hearing was tentatively scheduled for August 5, 2025, contingent on completion of environmental review documents. The board recorded that planning approval will not be granted until SEQRA is resolved.

Next steps recorded in the minutes include the applicant submitting full-size site plans, a Sewer Board review scheduled for July, and continued coordination between city engineering and the applicant on pre-treatment specifications and impact analysis.