Baker Tilly Launches Report and Waste to Energy Toolkit for Dairy Industry and Food Processors

Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP (Baker Tilly) and the Wisconsin State Energy Office (SEO) have partnered to develop an action plan aimed at assisting dairy farms and cheese-making facilities reduce waste, reduce land spreading, curb impacts on local wastewater facilities and harness available energy sources.

"Converting waste from these facilities for renewable energy applications may provide a meaningful tool as part of the state's future energy mix in the areas of heat and power generation", says Tom Unke, Leader of Baker Tilly's Energy and Utility Practice. The outcome of this collaboration demonstrates that alternative waste water treatment options can be economical, feasible, and financially viable in certain scenarios. The report's conclusions communicate actionable opportunities and provide a set of tools for identifying waste reducing energy applications within the state. These tools, along with a complete findings report, can be accessed through the Baker Tilly website.

This same analysis and set of tools can be developed for other states. Many opportunities are available state-wide to take advantage of waste-to-energy technologies for the production of renewable energy while reducing waste and pollution. The outcome of the collaboration was an in-depth toolkit and report that identifies opportunities for waste reducing energy applications on dairy farms and cheese making facilities. The goal was to create a win-win situation for Wisconsin's cheese makers and dairy farmers by demonstrating that waste, as an alternative energy source, can generate new sources of revenue and support operational growth. The report identifies substantial room for growth based on current estimates of available waste in the state.

"We are proud to work with the state on a collaborative effort aimed at helping Wisconsin dairy farms and cheese makers identify energy producing options while reducing waste that benefits many areas of the state", says Unke. Additionally, Baker Tilly partnered with the University of Wisconson-Oshkosh to acquire, implement, and maintain testing equipment to be utilized at the University's Environmental Research and Innovation Center (ERIC). This facility will test outputs from waste generated at dairy farms and cheese making facilities and will be shared by the entire state and should include both lab testing and field testing capabilities.

About Baker Tilly
With more than 1,400 employees, Baker Tilly provides a wide range of accounting, tax, and advisory services. Ranked as one of the top 20 largest firms in the country*, Baker Tilly serves clients from offices in Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, Washington DC, and throughout Wisconsin.

Baker Tilly is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 125 countries, with more than 24,000 professionals. The combined worldwide revenue of independent member firms exceeds $3 billion.

09.28.2012