CVPS Cow Power(TM), Audets Receive State's Highest Environmental Honor
January 29 2007 - 5:00PM
Business Wire
CVPS Cow Power�, the nation�s first manure-to-energy renewable
choice program, and Blue Spruce Farm, its first energy producer,
were honored today with the Vermont Governor�s Award for
Environmental Excellence. The award, the state of Vermont�s highest
environmental award, was given in honor of environmental benefits
that include improved air and water quality, reduced greenhouse
gases, and generation of clean, renewable energy. The award was
presented to CVPS Cow Power� coordinator David Dunn and Marie Audet
of Blue Spruce Farm by Governor James Douglas during a ceremony at
the Statehouse. �Through their partnership, the Audet family and
Central Vermont Public Service (NYSE: CV) have given new economic
hope to many of our Vermont farms while providing customers a fully
renewable energy choice,� Douglas said. �In creating CVPS Cow
Power� the company built an entirely new economic and environmental
model for manure management, and the Audets were brave enough to
become pioneers and prove that it would work. Together with the
3,700-plus customers who have enrolled, CVPS and the Audets have
shown the way for the many farmers who will follow their lead.�
CVPS created Cow Power in late 2004 to provide farmers with a new
income stream and customers a way to �vote� for renewable energy
through enrollment. Customers pay a premium of 4 cents per kilowatt
hour for CVPS Cow Power�, which goes to participating
farm-producers, to purchase renewable energy credits when enough
farm energy isn�t available, or to the CVPS Renewable Development
Fund. The fund provides grants to farm owners to develop on-farm
generation. Farm-producers are also paid 95 percent of the market
price for the energy sold to CVPS. The generation concept is
simple. Manure is held in a sealed concrete tank at the same
temperature as a cow�s stomach, 101 degrees. Bacteria digest the
volatile components, creating methane and killing pathogens and
weed seeds. The methane fuels a generator, and the energy is put
onto CVPS�s power lines for delivery to customers. The processed
farm waste can be separated into solids and liquid. The solids can
be dried and used as cow bedding or composted for home and garden
use, while the liquid, which is virtually odorless, can be spread
as fertilizer on the farm as it has been for hundreds of years. The
environmental benefits are significant. They include: Improved
manure management, and air and water quality. The capture of
methane, which is roughly 20 times worse than carbon dioxide at
trapping heat in the atmosphere. Destruction of pathogens,
including e coli, in the manure. Destruction of weed seeds, which
may reduce the need for herbicides. Reduced fossil fuel use through
the use of generator heat to produce hot water. Replacement of
sawdust bedding with dry solids, and reduced fossil fuels for
hauling sawdust. Virtual elimination of odor when spreading liquid
manure on fields. �While there are significant financial benefits
for farm producers of CVPS Cow Power�, it�s ultimately a
partnership between the company, our customers and our farm
producers to better the environment,� President Bob Young said.
�Our greatest hope is that it is copied across the country.� "We
are honored to receive this award as an affirmation of the
commitment throughout our farming community to manage the waste we
produce in an environmentally�responsible way,� Marie Audet said.
�We are also humbled by the�thousands of people paying a little
extra each month, making a statement that they not only support
renewable energy, but agriculture in Vermont." Blue Spruce was the
first farm to produce CVPS Cow Power�, but it was recently joined
by Pleasant Valley Farm in Berkshire. Green Mountain Dairy in
Sheldon, Montagne Farms in St. Albans, Newmont Farms in Fairlee,
and Deer Flat Farms in Pawlet are expected on-line this year.
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