Vermont’s Cow Power™ Program Adds U.S. Forest Service as Their Latest Customer
Cow Power - Energy Happens
The U.S. Forest Service announced that it will enroll its Rutland, Vermont office in the Central Vermont Public Service Cow Power ™ program.
We’ve written before here on EcoLocalizer on the potential of “cow power” as a source of biogas for electrical generation and as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Created in 2004, The Central Vermont Public Service Cow Power™ program is Vermont’s largest volunteer alternative energy program and the nation’s first direct farmer-to-consumer renewable energy plan.
Forest Service on board with Cow Power ™
With the U.S. Forest Service announcing their decision to participate in the Cow Power ™ program, they will join more than 4,000 other customers already enrolled.
“We work hard to improve the environment every day, so it’s natural that we’d want to lessen our environmental impact through Cow Power,” said Forest Supervisor Meg Mitchell. “As we looked at ways to reduce the impact of our energy usage, enrolling in CVPS Cow Power™ had a great impact. We are supporting a working landscape, helping to improve water quality and removing methane from the atmosphere”
Central Vermont Public Service president Bob Young praised the Forest Service decision to join Cow Power ™:
“The Forest Service’s enrollment makes a bold statement. We hear a tremendous amount about green energy, sustainability and the environment, but the Forest Service and other Cow Power enrollees are backing up their talk with concrete action and funding that actually helps expand renewable energy development in Vermont.”
Customers can choose to get a quarter, half, or all of their electricity through Cow Power ™ and agree to pay a premium of 4 cents per kilowatt hour to participate. The premium goes to farm-producers, to purchase renewable energy credits if there isn’t enough farm energy available, and to the CVPS Renewable Development Fund. The fund provides grants for farm owners to develop on-farm generation systems.
The growing success of the program means that Cow Power ™ will soon add its fifth producing farm.
How energy happens
The process is relatively simple: Manure and other agricultural waste is held in a sealed concrete tank at around 101 degrees Fahrenheit - about the same temperature as a cow’s stomach. Methane is created in the process as bacteria digest the volatile components of the mix, killing pathogens and weed seeds. The methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent the carbon dioxide, is then used to fuel an engine/generator to provide electricity for customers.
Like a pine forest
While it may not smell the same, by powering its Rutland Headquarters with electricity generated through this methane-capture method, the U.S. Forest Service will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to an equivalent to the amount of carbon a 114 acre pine forest sequesters in one year.
A breath of fresh air!
Vermont utilities leaders in renewable energy
Central Vermont Public Service, along with Green Mountain Power, the two largest public utilities in Vermont, announced last January that they have successfully met greenhouse gas reduction targets in accordance with their commitments as members of the Chicago Climate Exchange.
Last August the Vermont Public Service board approved several new innovative energy programs proposed by CVPS.
The CVPS Cow Power ™ program has received several awards since its inception. Among them are the Vermont Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for 2005-2006 and the Finalist’s Commendation in the 2007 Edison Electric Intstitute’s annual Edison Award competition. Power Magazine named CVPS Cow Power one of the five “Top Plants” worldwide.
So its true - Energy Happens.
Image credit: Central Vermont Public Service
