Kahlotus Cattle Ranch prior to any SolarSoil Farm development
Photo: Hayden Outdoors Real Estate Industrial Sewage
Kahlotus Cattle Ranch prior to any SolarSoil Farm development
Photo: Hayden Outdoors Real Estate
CONNELL - A new project near Connell, Washington, aims to revolutionize waste management by transforming highly treated sewage sludge into a valuable resource. The SolarSoil Farm, located on the recently purchased 1,174-acre Kahlotus Cattle Ranch, plans to process sludge from Bellingham into soil to support bamboo-type crops. These crops could then be used to produce toilet paper and similar products.
The project is the brainchild of Bellingham entrepreneurs Brent Cowden and Larry McCarter. The sludge and crops will be contained within engineered, double-lined lagoons designed to manage methane and odor emissions, ensuring environmental safety.
Although the project is still in its preliminary stages, SolarSoil Farm has already generated significant interest. The farm has yet to apply for the necessary conditional-use permit from Franklin County and does not have a contract with Bellingham. However, the project is being considered as a solution to the environmental challenges Bellingham faces with its current sludge incineration practices.
Bellingham's Point Place treatment plant produces about 18 tons of sludge daily. The city's current practice of incinerating this sludge has led to legal challenges and air quality violations cited by the Northwest Clean Air Agency. As a result, Bellingham is exploring alternatives, including the potential use of SolarSoil Farm.
Cowden and McCarter envision SolarSoil Farm as a safe and sustainable method for managing sewage sludge. The project will only handle highly processed sludge, not raw sewage, turning it into nutrient-rich soil within protected lagoons. This method aims to extract the sludge's nutrient value while ensuring environmental safety.
Franklin County officials have confirmed preliminary discussions with the project's representatives. The proposal, also known as the Connell Soil Project, awaits further development and necessary approvals.
Non Electric Sewage Treatment Plant SolarSoil Farm represents a forward-thinking approach to waste management, seeking to turn a challenging byproduct into a renewable resource.