Poopy power plant in Idaho ready to power up - Oregon next?
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Cargill Inc. has gotten the green light from the state Public Utilities Commission for a plan to supply Idaho Power Co. with 2.13 megawatts of electricity from the Minneapolis-based agricultural conglomerate's poop-to-power plant near Jerome. Cargill's cow manure digester at the 10,000-cow Bettencourt Dairy in Hansen in southern Idaho is scheduled to begin operation on Sept. 1. Cargill spent about $8.5 million to build the 2.25 megawatt digester and generator facility. Cargill has said it's exploring similar endeavors in neighboring Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, California, Texas, New York and Indiana. After the Idaho project has proven itself "for a reasonable amount of time," Idaho Power said it expects the two companies will enter into a long-term energy sales agreement. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)