Cow Power

I had the good fortune to check out one of the very first methane digestors in Middlebury, VT in the early 1980s. This was back when I was young and teaching wind and solar at Goddard College at the Social Ecology summer program. It was at Foster Brothers Dairy where my co-instructor, architect Bill Maclay, had arranged a tour.

That design was basically a big swimming pool of cow poop slurry with a big inner tube like sheet of rubber covering the whole thing to keep the air out, it's an anaerobic process, and the methane gas mixture in. You'd add more slurry in one side and they had a lower wall on the far side that would overflow and keep the volume constant. Very simple in concept.

The rubber sheet would fill with gas from the bubbling slurry and go up to the rafters every day. Then they'd turn on a modified Diesel generator set to provide power to the electric utility on peak hours from the gas generated. They also had an interesting de-watering system for the spent slurry that would leave behind this very fine decomposed straw material that could be reused as bedding for the dairy animals.

An excellent article with details, including some photos, of this pioneering effort below.

Vermont Manure Digestion Pioneers Cash in on Organic Growing - Manure Manager Magazine

"Back in the early 1980s, the dairy operated only one of 26 anaerobic digesters in the United States, but sometimes it really pays to be first off the mark. While the methane gas generated from an anaerobic digester is often touted today as the main potential cash cow for a farm business because of its ability to work as an energy source to generate power, Foster Brothers Dairy has cashed in on the composting potential of the separated solids manufactured from the digestion process.

The solids generated from the dairy’s digester, combined with separated solids and manure from other farms, are composted on a 10-acre site on the dairy and are the foundation of a well-established organic soil, compost and growing mix business. The dairy owners started this business venture in 1989 on an old barn site."

And something new in today's NY Times. As if it's a new idea.

Converting Methane Gas from Manure Into Electricity - NY Times - 23 Sep 08

" 'We realized we could help meet a customer demand for renewables, help solve a manure management problem and make these farmers more financially secure,' said Steve Costello, a spokesman for Central Vermont Public Service.

Four Vermont dairy farms are producing electricity for the utility, and two more are expected to be online by year’s end, Mr. Costello said. The utility hopes to add six more farms by 2010.

Residents and businesses that get their electricity from the program pay a premium of 4 cents a kilowatt hour above the typical rate of 12.5 cents. Most of that money goes to the farmers, who must purchase their own equipment, which can run up to $2 million per farm. Most farmers expect to make back their investment in 7 to 10 years."

And this just in. A neighborhood anaerobic digester in Minneapolis, Minnesota?

Linden Hills Power and Light

"Why did you choose to pursue anaerobic digestion?

Anaerobic digestion can be an integral part of the solution to two of the most pressing environmental concerns in urban centers: waste management and renewable energy.

In the anaerobic digestion process, specialized bacteria decompose organic matter (leaves, grass, tree clippings, food waste, pet waste, paper that's been in contact with food; items high in moisture) in an oxygen-depleted environment to produce biogas and a stable solid.

Each of these products can be used for beneficial purposes to close the loop in organic waste management. Anaerobic digestion has been successful in reducing the volume of waste going to landfill, decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases and creating organic fertilizer.

Cow Power

I had the good fortune to check out one of the very first methane digestors in Middlebury, VT in the early 1980s. This was back when I was young and teaching wind and solar at Goddard College at the Social Ecology summer program. It was at Foster Brothers Dairy where my co-instructor, architect Bill Maclay, had arranged a tour.

That design was basically a big swimming pool of cow poop slurry with a big inner tube like sheet of rubber covering the whole thing to keep the air out, it's an anaerobic process, and the methane gas mixture in. You'd add more slurry in one side and they had a lower wall on the far side that would overflow and keep the volume constant. Very simple in concept.

The rubber sheet would fill with gas from the bubbling slurry and go up to the rafters every day. Then they'd turn on a modified Diesel generator set to provide power to the electric utility on peak hours from the gas generated. They also had an interesting de-watering system for the spent slurry that would leave behind this very fine decomposed straw material that could be reused as bedding for the dairy animals.

An excellent article with details, including some photos, of this pioneering effort below.

Vermont Manure Digestion Pioneers Cash in on Organic Growing - Manure Manager Magazine

"Back in the early 1980s, the dairy operated only one of 26 anaerobic digesters in the United States, but sometimes it really pays to be first off the mark. While the methane gas generated from an anaerobic digester is often touted today as the main potential cash cow for a farm business because of its ability to work as an energy source to generate power, Foster Brothers Dairy has cashed in on the composting potential of the separated solids manufactured from the digestion process.

The solids generated from the dairy’s digester, combined with separated solids and manure from other farms, are composted on a 10-acre site on the dairy and are the foundation of a well-established organic soil, compost and growing mix business. The dairy owners started this business venture in 1989 on an old barn site."

And something new in today's NY Times. As if it's a new idea.

Converting Methane Gas from Manure Into Electricity - NY Times - 23 Sep 08

" 'We realized we could help meet a customer demand for renewables, help solve a manure management problem and make these farmers more financially secure,' said Steve Costello, a spokesman for Central Vermont Public Service.

Four Vermont dairy farms are producing electricity for the utility, and two more are expected to be online by year’s end, Mr. Costello said. The utility hopes to add six more farms by 2010.

Residents and businesses that get their electricity from the program pay a premium of 4 cents a kilowatt hour above the typical rate of 12.5 cents. Most of that money goes to the farmers, who must purchase their own equipment, which can run up to $2 million per farm. Most farmers expect to make back their investment in 7 to 10 years."

And this just in. A neighborhood anaerobic digester in Minneapolis, Minnesota?

Linden Hills Power and Light

"Why did you choose to pursue anaerobic digestion?

Anaerobic digestion can be an integral part of the solution to two of the most pressing environmental concerns in urban centers: waste management and renewable energy.

In the anaerobic digestion process, specialized bacteria decompose organic matter (leaves, grass, tree clippings, food waste, pet waste, paper that's been in contact with food; items high in moisture) in an oxygen-depleted environment to produce biogas and a stable solid.

Each of these products can be used for beneficial purposes to close the loop in organic waste management. Anaerobic digestion has been successful in reducing the volume of waste going to landfill, decreasing emissions of greenhouse gases and creating organic fertilizer.

McCain's Predictable Spin and Ferguson's Slam

I noted in another forum how the whole "suspend the campaign" thing was going to be spun into the heroic John McCain once again riding to the rescue of his country even at the risk of losing the election. Good old Tucker Bounds (you remember him from the infamous Campbell Brown interview on CNN) comes through with the premature announcement of such heroics. Never mind that McCain hardly had anything to add to the big meeting that Bush called yesterday.

As Predicted: Tucker Bounds Tries to Say that McCain is Responsible for Breaking the Bailout Stalemate - Crooks and Liars - 25 Sep 08

And then after Letterman reems McCain, Craig Ferguson, a newly minted American originally from Scotland, takes a chunk out of him in is clearly a conspiracy by the liberal press. Yes, that's pretty much the McCain line these days too. Playing the victim of liberal elites keeps the moronic base fired up.

Craig Ferguson Knocks McCain for Suspending Campaign, Compares Him to Castro, Napoleon Caesar - Huffington Post - 25 Sep 08

"You can't suspend the democratic process because we're facing problems. At what point do you think, maybe we should suspend the election? We'll have the elections later. Some people have done that before: Castro did it, Napoleon did it, Julius Caesar did it. You can't do that.

If you like it or not, the campaign is part of the democratic process....You wanna take your time off, that's fine, but you don't say we're suspending the campaign. You can't say that. It's the democratic process. We didn't suspend it for 9/11, we didn't suspend it for Pearl Harbor, we didn't suspend it for the Nazis, we didn't suspend it for the damn British. We don't do that in America!"

McCain's Predictable Spin and Ferguson's Slam

I noted in another forum how the whole "suspend the campaign" thing was going to be spun into the heroic John McCain once again riding to the rescue of his country even at the risk of losing the election. Good old Tucker Bounds (you remember him from the infamous Campbell Brown interview on CNN) comes through with the premature announcement of such heroics. Never mind that McCain hardly had anything to add to the big meeting that Bush called yesterday.

As Predicted: Tucker Bounds Tries to Say that McCain is Responsible for Breaking the Bailout Stalemate - Crooks and Liars - 25 Sep 08

And then after Letterman reems McCain, Craig Ferguson, a newly minted American originally from Scotland, takes a chunk out of him in is clearly a conspiracy by the liberal press. Yes, that's pretty much the McCain line these days too. Playing the victim of liberal elites keeps the moronic base fired up.

Craig Ferguson Knocks McCain for Suspending Campaign, Compares Him to Castro, Napoleon Caesar - Huffington Post - 25 Sep 08

"You can't suspend the democratic process because we're facing problems. At what point do you think, maybe we should suspend the election? We'll have the elections later. Some people have done that before: Castro did it, Napoleon did it, Julius Caesar did it. You can't do that.

If you like it or not, the campaign is part of the democratic process....You wanna take your time off, that's fine, but you don't say we're suspending the campaign. You can't say that. It's the democratic process. We didn't suspend it for 9/11, we didn't suspend it for Pearl Harbor, we didn't suspend it for the Nazis, we didn't suspend it for the damn British. We don't do that in America!"

Head of Skate

"Head of Skate" Palin spoof trailer. Thanks to markmc03 for this one.

Head of Skate

"Head of Skate" Palin spoof trailer. Thanks to markmc03 for this one.

Adios South African Nuclear Renaissance

Looks like our little financial fiasco is trickling out to other countries. Perhaps the lack of a nuclear option will force them to start thinking more sensibly about how to fix their mess. (Besides charging close what it costs for electricity.)

Eskom's Nuclear Plan Hit by Crisis - World Nuclear News - 25 Sep 08

"Plans by South African utility Eskom to invest heavily in new nuclear generating capacity look uncertain. Political turmoil within the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and doubts about the utility's ability to secure international funding for the program have fuelled concerns that the country's energy woes are far from resolution."

"The question though on industry watchers' minds is whether Eskom, in the current climate, has the muscle or influence any longer to fund a nuclear expansion program. The utility has been downgraded by credit rating agency Moody's, with further downgrades also possible from Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings.

The current global economic crisis may also make foreign funding hard to come by. The country's National Treasury has committed to a mere 60 billion rand ($7 billion) over the next three years, leaving a very significant shortfall to reach Eskom's 343 billion rand ($42 billion) expansion plans."

Adios South African Nuclear Renaissance

Looks like our little financial fiasco is trickling out to other countries. Perhaps the lack of a nuclear option will force them to start thinking more sensibly about how to fix their mess. (Besides charging close what it costs for electricity.)

Eskom's Nuclear Plan Hit by Crisis - World Nuclear News - 25 Sep 08

"Plans by South African utility Eskom to invest heavily in new nuclear generating capacity look uncertain. Political turmoil within the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and doubts about the utility's ability to secure international funding for the program have fuelled concerns that the country's energy woes are far from resolution."

"The question though on industry watchers' minds is whether Eskom, in the current climate, has the muscle or influence any longer to fund a nuclear expansion program. The utility has been downgraded by credit rating agency Moody's, with further downgrades also possible from Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings.

The current global economic crisis may also make foreign funding hard to come by. The country's National Treasury has committed to a mere 60 billion rand ($7 billion) over the next three years, leaving a very significant shortfall to reach Eskom's 343 billion rand ($42 billion) expansion plans."

Buffett to Nuke New Nukes?

Hoping that the homeboy will do good.

WSJ: Buffett Could Reshape Nuclear Power Industry - Cattle Network - 26 Sep 08

"On Thursday, MidAmerican chief executive Greg Abel sounded more enthusiastic about the technology, saying 'we're committed to new nuclear.' But he acknowledged that construction costs still have to be right. Mr. Buffett may still decide costs are too high, which could send a shudder through the rest of the nuclear industry.

The UniStar consortium brings together some of the most sophisticated players in the nuclear sector, including Electricite de France SA, the world's largest operator of nuclear plants; Areva SA, the world's largest nuclear engineering firm by revenue; equipment maker Alstom SA; and engineering, procurement and construction firm Bechtel Corp.

Executives at both EDF and Areva said they are worried that Mr. Buffett will order Constellation to ditch its nuclear plans over fears of soaring costs, and possibly pull out of UniStar altogether. Both invested in UniStar as a way of extending their reach into the U.S. market."

Buffett to Nuke New Nukes?

Hoping that the homeboy will do good.

WSJ: Buffett Could Reshape Nuclear Power Industry - Cattle Network - 26 Sep 08

"On Thursday, MidAmerican chief executive Greg Abel sounded more enthusiastic about the technology, saying 'we're committed to new nuclear.' But he acknowledged that construction costs still have to be right. Mr. Buffett may still decide costs are too high, which could send a shudder through the rest of the nuclear industry.

The UniStar consortium brings together some of the most sophisticated players in the nuclear sector, including Electricite de France SA, the world's largest operator of nuclear plants; Areva SA, the world's largest nuclear engineering firm by revenue; equipment maker Alstom SA; and engineering, procurement and construction firm Bechtel Corp.

Executives at both EDF and Areva said they are worried that Mr. Buffett will order Constellation to ditch its nuclear plans over fears of soaring costs, and possibly pull out of UniStar altogether. Both invested in UniStar as a way of extending their reach into the U.S. market."