Grants Fund Cow Power Generators at Four Vermont Farms

[jpak]

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=44549

Rutland, Vermont Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) Cow Power, a direct farm-to-consumer renewable energy program that works with dairy farmers to process their cow manure and farm waste to generate electricity, announced that four Vermont farms received grant offers totaling $666,000 from the CVPS Renewable Development Fund. The funds will help defray the cost of building new farm-based electric-generating systems to support the state's largest renewable energy program.

"Cow Power has done everything we'd hoped it would do for us, and more. It's given us a new income stream, reduced our costs, provided us options for handling our manure, and virtually eliminated the odor of manure spreading."-- Earl Audet operates the Blue Spruce Farm in Bridport, Vermont, which has been generating energy for more than a year

"These grants will help develop 8,400 megawatt-hours of clean renewable energy right here in Vermont," said Bob Young, CVPS president. "That's enough energy to supply 1,395 average homes using 500 kWh per month."

Farms in Sheldon, Fairlee, West Pawlet and St. Albans will receive the grants from the CVPS Renewable Development Fund, set up in 2004 to encourage farm owners to develop new renewable generation through CVPS Cow Power, which is said to be the only such program in the country. The farms need Vermont Public Service Board approval to interconnect the generators, but all four hope to be online later this year:

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[Lasher]

1. Let the tasteless jokes ensue! (EOM)