Cow power refers to converting cow manure into a renewable and dependable source of fuel or electricity.

The key process stages of anaerobic digestion to create methane biogas

[edit] Benefits of Cow Power

By using cow power, many advantages arise. First of all, by utilizing cow power in North America, we would be able to generate enough electricity to meet up to three percent of the continent's electricity expidenture. In addition, the use of cow power would reduce global warming. Normally, manure that is left to compose releases two main gases that cause global warming: nitrous dioxide and methane. Nitrous oxide warms the atmosphere three hundred and ten times more than carbon dioxide, while methane only warms the air twenty-one times more. By converting cow manure into methane biogas via anaerobic digestion, the millions of cows in the in the United States would be able to produce one hundred billion kilowatt hours of electricity, enough to power millions of homes across the United States. In fact, one cow can produce enough manure in one day to generate three kilowatt hours of electricity; only 2.4 kilowatt hours of electricity are needed to power a single one hundred watt light bulb for one day.^[1] Furthermore, by converting cow manure into methane biogas instead of letting it decompose, we would be able to reduce global warming gases by ninety-nine million metric tons or four percent.^[2]

[edit] Cow Power in the United States

With the many benefits of cow power, it is starting to become a popular source of energy and is starting to be utilized in the United States more. In Vermont, for example, cow power is being used to power a farm. In Sheldon, Vermont Green Dairy Farm has recently started using its cows to provide power throughout the farm. It all started when the brothers who own the farm, Bill and Brian Rowell, wanted to make a larger profit. So they decided to use their cow waste from their one thousand fifty cows to power their farm. In addition, they have enough power to sell to buyers too. In turn, the Rowell brothers have enough electricity to power their farm and at least three hundred to three hundred fifty other homes. In total, the Rowell brothers generate up to two hundred fifty to three hundred kilowatt hours of electricity per day and receive a huge pay check.^[3]

In Hereford, Texas cow manure is being used to power an ethanol power plant. By switching to methane bio-gas, the ethanol power plant has saved one thousand barrels of oil a day. Overall, the power plant has reduced transportation costs and will be opening many more jobs for future power plants that will be relying on cow power.^[4]

[edit] See Also

• anaerobic digestion
• biofuel
• biogas
• renewable energy
• waste management

[edit] References

1. ^ State Energy Conservation Office (Texas). "Biomass Energy: Manure for Fuel." State Energy Conservation Office (Texas). State of Texas, 23 Apr. 2009. Web. 3 Oct. 2009. <http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_biomass-manure.htm>.
2. ^ Webber, Michael E, and Amanda D Cuellar. "Cow Power. (In the News: Short News Items of Interest to the Scientific Community." Science and Children os 46.1 (2008): 13. Gale. Web. 1 Oct. 2009. <http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/retrieve.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28KE%2CNone%2C9%29Cow+Power%24&sgHitCountType=None&inPS=true&sort=DateDescend&searchType=BasicSearchForm&tabID=T002&prodId>.
3. ^ Zezima, Katie. "Electricity From What Cows Leave Behind." The New York Times 23 Sept. 2008, natl. ed.: SPG9. Web. 1 Oct. 2009. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/business/businessspecial2/24farmers.html>.
4. ^ State Energy Conservation Office (Texas). "Biomass Energy: Manure for Fuel." State Energy Conservation Office (Texas). State of Texas, 23 Apr. 2009. Web. 3 Oct. 2009. <http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_biomass-manure.htm>.

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