Wisconsin celebrates first dung driven power generator

Wisconsin has opened its first ever manure-to-energy digester, fuelled by the dung from 1,800 dairy cows, which will provide 250 homes with electricity.

Decomposition of the dung from Tinedale Farm will be speeded up in a digester, with around 300,000 cubit feet of methane produced every day being used to fuel a small power plant, and the processed manure returned to the farm. The renewable energy will be then purchased by Wisconsin Electric/Wisconsin Gas for distribution throughout its service area.

“I’ve helped design, construct and operate power plants in Wisconsin for more than 30 years, and this is definitely a first,” said Dick Grigg, Wisconsin Electric/Wisconsin Gas President and Chief Operating Officer. “This facility represents the creativity and innovation our state needs to care for our environment and secure our energy future. It also demonstrates the intelligent farming practices that have made Wisconsin a world dairy leader.”

“Farming and caring for the environment go hand in hand,” said Carl Theunis of Tinedale Farms. “I’m very proud that we’ve developed a way to turn our waste into renewable energy and protect the land for future generations. This project also demonstrates how impportant the link is between our urban and rural areas. The electricity we generate here on the farm will flow to businesses and people’s homes.”

http://www.edie.net/news/Archive/4391.cfm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), June 23, 2001

Answers

There is a dairy farm in Northern Connecticut that is using the methane produced from it's cows to power a fuel cell.

-- K (infosurf@yahoo.com), June 25, 2001.