Green Mountain College gives cow power a boost

BRIDPORT —Green Mountain College has become the first Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) Cow Power campus — and the largest customer enrolled in the farm-to-consumer renewable energy program.

“Green Mountain College (GMC) is focused on sustainability at every level, from how we teach to how we use energy,” said Bill Throop, GMC provost, during a tour of the Blue Spruce Farm. “Enrolling in CVPS Cow Power will fundamentally change our environmental footprint and provide an excellent educational opportunity for our 750 students.”

GMC has committed to 50 percent CVPS Cow Power for its main campus in Poultney, and enrolled the Killington campus, president’s house, campus farm, an inn and the alumni house at 100 percent. GMC is expected to purchase 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy through the program annually.

“GMC’s enrollment in Cow Power demonstrates a tremendous financial and philosophical commitment to improving air and water quality, farm economics and renewable energy in the Green Mountain State,” said Bob Young, CVPS’ president. “Green Mountain College is setting a high standard for itself and others who care about the environment.”

Stephen Wark, director of consumer affairs and public information for the Vermont Department of Public Service, praised GMC for its commitment.

“Customers have got to support and embrace the technology for farm owners to make the financial commitments they are making to become Cow Power farms,” Wark said. “Customers like GMC are providing farms an opportunity to improve their manure management and their bottom lines.”

The mission of Green Mountain College, founded in 1834 in Poultney, is in part to foster the ideals of environmental responsibility and public service through education. That education starts with a focus on sustainability, which in recent years has included a campus-wide energy overhaul to low-flow toilets and showerheads, compact fluorescent light bulbs, remote-controlled thermostats, and wind and photovoltaic demonstration projects.

“Cow Power is a great fit with our mission,” Throop said. “It serves the region and the environment, two ideas we emphasize with students. As global warming looms ever larger, we need to go beyond teaching, and set examples for students and society at large. Nearly every department on campus allocated money in their budgets to help offset the cost increase of the program.”

CVPS customers can choose to receive all, half or a quarter of their electrical energy through Cow Power, and pay a premium of 4 cents per kilowatt hour, which goes to participating farm-producers, to purchase renewable energy credits when enough farm energy isn’t available, or to the CVPS Renewable Development Fund. The fund provides grants to farm owners to develop on-farm generation. Farm-producers are paid 95 percent of the market price for the energy sold to CVPS in addition to the 4-cent premium.

To create energy, manure and other farm waste are held in a sealed concrete tank at the same temperature as a cow’s stomach, 101 degrees. Bacteria digest the volatile components, creating methane while killing pathogens and weed seeds. The methane, which is roughly 20 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, fuels an engine/generator, and the electricity is fed onto the CVPS electric distribution system.

Blue Spruce Farm in Bridport was the first CVPS Cow Power producer, starting in January 2005. It recently added a second generator to increase its production. Several other farms are in the process of developing generators and are expected online late this year and in 2007.

Four farms recently received grant offers totaling more than $660,000 from the CVPS Renewable Development Fund to help get them started. They include: Green Mountain Dairy Farm in Sheldon, owned by Brian and Bill Rowell; Montagne Farms in St. Albans, two farms owned by Dave Montagne; Newmont Farms LLC in Fairlee, owned by Walter and Margaret Gladstone; and Deer Flats Farm in West Pawlet, owned by Dick and Rich Hulett.

Posted November 1, 2006

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