WHO-TV, IA
05-21-07
Electricity Of The Future?
May 21, 2007--Cows and pigs could be the electricity of the future. Fifteen
experts from 21 states and three countries are in Des Moines talking about
anaerobic digestion. It's a machine that takes animal waste solids and generates
methane gas which then creates electricity.
Iowa State University Professor, Robert Burns, says today's conference is to
bring information to farm advisors and consultants about the technology. Burns
says above and beyond the creation of electricity, there's a benefit to using the
system. "Farmers have used anaerobic digestion for many years as odor control
mechanism. Anerobic digestion is a very effective means to minimize odors from
manure systems."
There are currently 40 anaerobic digestion systems operating in the United
States. They're powered by swine, dairy cows and beef cattle.