California could be doing more to promote converted cow waste as a renewable energy – that’s what some environmentalists have claimed. So-called “cow power” is generated by using a methane “digester” to turn manure into biogas.
Renewable energy advocates note biogas generators haven’t had the same government subsidies as wind and solar developers.
Stacey Sullivan with the group Sustainable Conservation said state officials could give “cow power” a boost by making it more attractive financially.
“In order to allow it to take its place in the larger suite of renewable energy that it get a particular price that allows it to sort of, in a sense, catch up…actually make the development of it more attractive to the people who want to develop these things,” said Sullivan.
Sustainable Conservation wants the California Public Utilities Commission to set up a pricing mechanism that puts biogas at rates competitive with solar and wind.
The PUC is expected to make a decision next month.
