USA Today has an article on dairy farms that are becoming energy providers. Cows generate about 100 pounds of manure a day; in the old days, this manure sat and released methane directly into the air for a while, and then was typically spread onto nearby fields, which created a bit of an odor for a few days.
Dairy farmers are now installing anaeroboic digesters that accelerate the decomposition of the manure. Methane from the digesters is used to power a generator that produces electricity for the farm, and excess power is sold to the local electric utility. Some farms are actually net energy producers, meaning the methane generated is enough to handle all of the farm's electrical needs and then some. Excess heat from the generator can also be used to keep barns warm, improving efficiency even more. But wait--there is more! After you extract the methane and liquid from the manure, you are left with a peat-like, odorless mulch that is better than straw for bedding in the cow barns, reducing or elminating the farmer's cost of straw.
The article notes that power from manure is not likely to be a significant contributor to the nation's electric needs, but from the dairy farmer's perspective, it is revolutionary, since it adds a complementary business (electric power) to traditional farming that makes the overall business much more profitable. Economic developers in rural dairy farming regions: How about finding a local entrepreneur who could start a business installing and servicing these systems? How much electric power could your region generate if you got a significant percentage of your dairy farmers to install these systems? What could it mean to your local economy? The Energy Economy won't be just about big power--"little" power is going to create lots of new business opportunities as we move away from dependence on traditional fossil fuels. Is your region ready?