News
Biofuels advance: cow power carries California milk to market
February 10, 2009 by Manure Manager
Feb. 10, 2009 – Two heavy-duty trucks normally powered by diesel fuel have been
converted to run on clean-burning biomethane produced from cow manure
at Hilarides Dairy (Lindsay, Calif.)
First U.S. Cow-Powered Milk Truck Debuts at World Ag Expo
WHAT: First U.S. milk delivery truck powered by biomethane made from cow manure.
This innovative biofuel is:
- Renewable energy produced from local material (replacing diesel or natural gas);
- Carbon-negative (fuel production captures methane);
- High net energy yielding (far more efficient than corn);
- Produced from manure, not food crops (hence bypasses food/fueltrade-off).
WHEN: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 1:30p.m. (presentation and Q&A)
WHERE: World Ag Expo – Dairy Pavilion – Exhibit Space #DS-31.
Tulare, California (From Highway 99, take Avenue 200 exit; follow signs.)
WHO: Partners in the project are:
Rob Hilarides, owner, Hilarides Dairy
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Western United Resource Development, Inc.
Western United Dairymen Sustainable Conservation
California Air Resources Board
CalStart
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Hilmar Cheese Company
Kustom Products
Phase 3 Renewables
University of California, Davis
Background
Two heavy-duty trucks normally powered by diesel fuel have been converted to run on clean-burning biomethane produced from cow manure at Hilarides Dairy (Lindsay, Calif.). This break-through came from a public-private partnership which aims to develop a new model for replacing diesel fuel with renewable biomethane — generated from agricultural sources such as food processing and dairy waste.
The benefits include:
- Reduced global warming emissions since methane is a potent greenhouse gas (21 times more potent than CO2), and this system traps and destroys methane
- from cow manure.
- Reduced air pollution from diesel emissions, which is especially critical in California’s San Joaquin Valley where air quality is among the worst in the nation.
- Reduced dependence on fossil fuels, which are largely imported from outside the U.S. and which entail significant environmental impacts to drill and refine.
- Reduced infrastructure needs and costs, since fuel production takes place near the source of the feedstock material and the end users.
- Promotes energy self-sufficiency on farms.
The World Ag Expo is the world’s largest annual agricultural exposition, with 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, more than 1,600 exhibitors and an estimated 100,000 attendees.
