A major industrial project is quietly moving forward in Sunnyside — and many residents are only now learning about it.
The proposed renewable natural gas (RNG) biodigester, backed by Pacific Ag, the City of Sunnyside, and the Port of Sunnyside, could become one of the largest biodigesters in the entire country. Yet for a project of this scale, community awareness has been alarmingly low.
That alone raises serious concerns.
At its core, a biodigester is designed to process animal manure and convert it into methane gas, marketed as renewable natural gas. While this is often framed as a climate-friendly solution, the reality is far more complex.
Each dairy cow produces massive amounts of waste daily, and this system attempts to manage that by centralizing manure from 25 to 35 dairies into one facility. The result? A large-scale industrial operation involving:
Importantly, about 90–95% of the material remains after processing, meaning most of the waste still needs to be managed elsewhere.
When ELLA canvassed community members in 2023, nearly no one knew what a biodigester was or that one was being proposed near their homes.
That lack of communication is not a small oversight — it’s a systemic failure.
Key concerns raised by residents include:
Posted May 12, 2026
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