A growing number of dairy farmers have decided there’s money in manure. Cow manure – about 100 lbs. per animal per day -- is collected and fed into a giant, airtight tank called a digester. Once in the digester, the manure is broken down by bacteria. The manure steeps for 20 to 100 days, emitting methane gas throughout. The methane gas can be captured and burned to make electricity. Manure from eight cows can power one house. Electricity from one digester could power 170 homes, and manure from the U.S.A.’s 8.5 million cows could power up to one million natural gas-burning cars. Besides, methane gas from manure normally stored in lagoons escapes into the air, contributing to the “greenhouse effect” and, of course, there’s the smell. Anaerobic digesters solve both problems. Last month, grain giant Cargill agreed to go into business with Environmental Power, a company that installs digesters on farms, sells the gas to utilities and pays the farmers a percentage. Cargill will connect the company with the huge number of farms it does business with. -- December 3 edition of USA Today To read the whole article click here. |
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