Vt. utility expands manure-energy program

RUTLND, Vt., May 04, 2005 -- United Press International

A Vermont utility is bullish on the concept of "cow power," the use of livestock waste to generate electricity.

Central Vermont Public Service President Bob Yung told stockholders Wednesday the company planned to recruit more farms and customers to make the utility's "Cow Power" program among the top 10 renewable power offerings in the United States by the end of the decade.

Cow Power turns manure stored in tanks into methane gas that is used to run generators hooked up to the CVPS grid.

Young said the program enrolled more than 1,500 customers -- about 1 percent of CVPS' customer base -- in less than a year. The power costs consumers a few cents more per kilowatt-hour, but gives renewable-energy producers a modicum of certainty there will be a market for their energy.

Young said boosting enrollment in Cow Power would serve as an incentive for more dairy farmers to sign up to provide manure for additional power generation.

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