February 24, 2010 – Woodstock, Conn. – Both Putnam and Woodstock are
supporting an effort by Fairvue Farms to turn cow manure into energy.
February 24, 2010 – Woodstock, Conn. – Both Putnam and Woodstock are supporting an effort by Fairvue Farms to turn cow manure into energy.
With upwards of 750 cows, Fairvue Farms generates a lot of manure. Every day, one cow produces 100 pounds of manure every day.
The plan is to attract public and private financing to build the system that draws the methane out of the manure.
The system collects the manure in a sealed tank where it is then heated by hot water, releasing the methane gas, which is piped into a generator to produce energy.
The solids that are left over by the manure can be turned into fertilizer, and the heat released would be used — as heat.
Presently, Fairvue recycles its manure as fertilizer and organic bedding for the cows. Converting it into heat and electricity, however would be a 21st century application for a material that's been around forever.
If everything falls into place, the operation could be up and running in a few years. | READ MORE
