Cow-generated electricity (no manure involved, at least not directly)

Popular Science carried a brief article in the May 2010 issue (see page 37) about a Northern Ireland farmer who built a cow-powered treadmill for generating electricity. According to the farmer, cows walk about 8 miles a day, anyway, and a well-exercised cow produces more milk and produces less greenhouse gas. Estimated payback on a multi-cow generator is about 3 years, he estimated.

This isn't an entirely new concept. The Amish have had equine-powered treadmills, using horses or mules to generate energy needed to operates static machinery. John Dappert, who lives in Crawford County, Illinois, told me through a posting on NewAgTalk.Com that some reprints of old Sears catalogs offered dog-powered treadmills for powering washing machines.

"Horse and mule power on treadmills were very common before electricity on the farm. I recall not too many years ago someone rigged a stationary bicycle to a generator to power a telivision, only way the kids could watch was to pedal the bike to generate the electricity to power the TV.  Old technology to adapt to a new problem, not a bad idea."

- Owen Taylor