| NEW YORK–We've heard of ‘Black Power' | | | | The Summit was convened by the Innovation Center |
| and ‘Power to the People.' But a new green | | | | of the United States Dairy, along with General |
| slogan may be coined: ‘Dairy Power.' This week, | | | | Electric. New York's 40 by 15 energy plan is one of |
| more than 200 dairy farmers and industry | | | | the most progressive in the nation–especially |
| stakeholders met in Syracuse, New York to discuss | | | | since 30% of the renewable energy will be sourced |
| the various ways their farms can make energy for | | | | through methane. |
| the 21st century. | | | | Summit members also devised an action of plan of |
| The Dairy Power Summit attendees set a huge | | | | more than a dozen projects to help achieve their |
| goal–by 2020, 40% of waste products from | | | | goals–many of them with tongue-in-cheek names |
| New York dairy farms will be converted to energy | | | | and creative ways to get more people involved with |
| by the process of anaerobic digestion. How big of a | | | | organic waste processing. Examples? "NY Cow |
| goal is that? Well, 40% participation would power | | | | Power," modeled after a Vermont program, will |
| 30,000 houses in the New York region. Not only | | | | develop an alternative voluntary rate-payer program |
| would it also provide additional revenue to these | | | | for energy that's sourced through anaerobic digestion. |
| farms, but greenhouse gas emissions in the state | | | | The Small Farm Digester Initiative makes organic |
| would decrease by 500,000 metric tons of carbon | | | | waste processing a contest–and there's a $1 |
| annually. That's like taking 100,000 cars off the road | | | | million dollar prize going to the winner. |
| every year. | | | | Read more about the Dairy Power Summit here. |