US: Electricity from Cow Waste

Environmental Power Corporation , in
collaboration with Dairyland Power Cooperative, is formally
commissioning the first of its electricity generating anaerobic
digester systems. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on June 22, at
the Five Star Dairy in Elk Mound, WI, to commemorate this. The ceremony
will feature a facility tour and brief remarks by William Berg,
president and chief executive officer of Dairyland Power Cooperative,
Frank Frassetto, Wisconsin state director for USDA Rural Development,
Joseph Cresci, chairman of Environmental Power Corporation, and
Agricultural Minister Counselor Steen Thorsted of the Royal Danish
Embassy in Washington, DC.


This facility has been designed and constructed by Microgy, Inc.,
Environmental Power's principal operating subsidiary. The facility is
believed by Microgy to produce substantially more electricity from a
given quantity of animal and organic wastes than any other anaerobic
digester system built for commercial purposes in the United States. The
facility is the first installed in the United States utilizing a proven
Danish technology licensed exclusively to Microgy for deployment in
North America. The system is projected to generate approximately 6.5
million kilowatt hours annually from the waste of about 800 milk cows,
an output that is sufficient to supply approximately 600 homes.


Joseph Cresci stated "The commissioning of this system is the first
step toward what we believe will be an important role for this superior
technology in helping our country cost-effectively meet its growing
energy demands while protecting the environment."


In addition to producing renewable energy, anaerobic digesters are
recognized as a solution to environmental and regulatory compliance
issues related to animal waste disposal. Microgy's system can help
farmers reduce ground and surface water pollution and minimize odors
while freeing land for increased herd sizes, which is expected to help
lower farm operation and maintenance costs. Anaerobic digesters also
produce residual byproducts, including compost, bedding materials and
pollution management credits that can serve as additional sources of
revenue.


"Environmental Power Corporation is committed to developing renewable
and alternative energy facilities. With our first-mover advantage in
producing biofuels from agricultural waste management processes, we
hope to continue leading the way in the growing market for 'green'
energy," said Kam Tejwani, president and chief executive officer,
Environmental Power Corporation. "This event showcases Microgy's unique
technology and celebrates our collaboration with Lee Jensen of Five
Star Dairy, Dairyland Power Cooperative and Dunn Energy. We look
forward to the construction and installation of additional anaerobic
digesters with Dairyland Power Cooperative."


"This alliance with Microgy enables Dairyland to expand our renewable
energy portfolio as part of our long-term plan to use clean,
cost-effective sources of electricity. Increased demand on our system
will be eased by this waste-to-energy generation, which is good for our
cooperative members and the environment," said William Berg, president
and chief executive officer, Dairyland Power Cooperative.


ABOUT Environmental Power Corporation: Environmental Power Corporation
is a developer, owner and operator of renewable energy production
facilities. Its principal operating subsidiary, Microgy, Inc., holds an
exclusive license in North America for the development and deployment
of a proprietary anaerobic digestion technology, which transforms
manure and food industry waste into methane-rich biogas that can be
used to generate electricity or thermal energy, or refined to
pipeline-grade methane for sale as a commodity. This technology also
represents a potentially profitable solution for the nation's estimated
3,500 large animal feeding operations as they seek to comply with a
growing number of proposed and adopted mandates developed by federal,
state and local officials aimed at regulating the management of farm
waste. For more information visit the Company's web site at
www.environmentalpower.com.


About Dairyland Power Cooperative: With headquarters in La Crosse,
Wis., Dairyland provides wholesale electricity to 25 member
distribution cooperatives and 20 municipal utilities. Dairyland's
service area encompasses 62 counties in four states (Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois). Dairyland has provided low-cost,
reliable electrical energy and related services to its customers in the
upper Midwest for over 63 years.

• 181 Food and Agriculture
• 183 Environment