'Green Power' Aims to Generate Energy With a Conscience

'Green Power' Aims to Generate Energy With a Conscience

Jun 23 - Pantagraph

It takes many forms. Call it green energy, renewable sources or simply poop to power.

The aim's the same -- generating electricity with an environmental conscience. Corn Belt Energy Corp. at Downs has just launched the Green Power Program through its energy provider Wabash Valley Power Cooperative in Indianapolis, Ind.

"Eight people have signed up. I think more will join, but I don't think it will be an overwhelming number," said Dave Hawkinson, Corn Belt spokesman. "I did have one member who was quite excited and complimentary about it."

Corn Belt members simply call the energy cooperative or sign up online at www.cornbeltenergy.com. Green Power customers pay 1/2 cent per kilowatt hour more for their electricity. That would typically add about $46 to the average residential member's annual bill.

"Besides supplying green power to consumers who opt for it, the program is going to raise money to fund environmental projects in the Corn Belt Energy service area," said Jeffrey D. Reeves, Corn Belt president and chief operating officer.

Money collected from the 1/2-cent higher power costs will go to the Green Power Fund. Corn Belt's board will administer the fund that will help finance projects like a proposed wind generator at the Illinois State University Farm near Lexington.

Corn Belt employees already contributed to the ISU Farm project. Last year, they installed power hookups for a 260-foot wind monitoring tower.

Wabash Valley began offering it's customers Enviro Watts three years ago. Corn Belt signed an energy supply contract with Wabash Valley last year.

Sherry Rose, Wabash Valley business and community development coordinator, said some of the green power comes from methane gas captured from a landfill. Methane is a byproduct of solid waste decomposition and can be burned to produce electricity.

The rest of the green power comes from a number of Indiana dairy farms. To reduce runoff of manure applied as fertilizer on farmland, the dairies installed anaerobic generators. The machines provide power by burning manure. Wabash Valley buys excess power farmers don't need to run their farms.

"Corn Belt is our largest cooperative. We serve one in Ohio, one in Michigan, 23 in Indiana and three in Illinois, including ones at Paris and Carlinville," said Rose. "We've trademarked Enviro Watts and license it to power suppliers."

Other electrical companies have tapped into green power, including Commonwealth Edison. The power provider has purchased methane gas generated power from Allied Waste Industries, which owns the Pontiac landfill.

Nationally, a coalition of companies called the Green Power Market Development Group, wants to secure deals for 112 megawatts from renewable energy sources. That would power nearly 34,000 homes.

Most renewable energy advocates believe Illinois residents will not receive large amounts of green power until the state mandates renewable energy use. Illinois' renewable standard remains voluntary, suggesting that utilities get 5 percent of their energy needs from renewable sources by 2010.

For far more extensive news on the energy/power visit: http://www.energycentral.com .