Cow power
At one time it may have been a cow pie in the sky idea. But now cow manure is being used to produce electricity. Cow power is being used in Chino, CA to clean up the water in the Chino basin.
Located in the Chino Agricultural Preserve, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) digester facility receives manure from several of the over 300 dairies in the area to operate an anaerobic digester facility that processes the manure and recycles it as electricity. The facility also produces compost that is marketed as fertilizer.
Anaerobic digestion is a biological process that decomposes organic wastes, using bacteria to produce methane gas. This seems to be an environmentally beneficial, and cost-effective solution for dealing with the cow poop. Using this methane helps reduce greenhouse gases.
Its no secret that cows produce a lot of pies, over 100 pounds per cow each day. This new technology is being used so that these cows can be used to generate power not just pies and the electricity is helping to clean the water in the area.
That's one way to take a dirty problem and turn it around to make a positive impact.
About this blog
Roxanne Kotzman is a Daily News Photo Department veteran of nine years. When she and longtime friend Stacy Long
discovered their love all of all things environmentally responsible, they launched Happy Monkey Planet and jumped head-first into the vibrant eco-community.
Wow, so much to learn! But initially the idea is a pretty simple one: Let's change the world through information, education and action.
Rox & Stacy are a lot like you: ecologically minded but sometimes just plain overwhelmed when charged with the task of making a far-reaching difference in the environment. They have jobs, families, homes, lives and pets.
But what if doing better was a simple as a light-bulb change, a reusable canvas grocery bag, recycling that soda can or a cold-water wash?
These eco-chicks just hope to have a little fun, learn a little more, share a lot of information and maybe make the planet a happier, greener, cleaner place.
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