Cow Power and UVM Extension

Cow Power and UVM Extension Making sustainable energy choices at UVM

Energy Democracy }

"We've never had a say in our energy before... One of the challenges of our era is to approach making our energy decisions democratic"

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Use energy decisions to educate people and be educated

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More robust choices

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-Dr. Miranda Schreurs, the Director of the Environmental Policy Research Center and Professor of Comparative Politics at the Free University in Berlin (Freie Universit채t Berlin),

Cow Power and the UVM Climate Action Plan

American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment

Source: NASA

UVM’s targets for Climate Neutrality

Electricity represents 38% of total GHG emissions at UVM

Achieving zero emissions electricity }

Renewable Energy Credits (REC) and Carbon Offsets

Considerations when purchasing RECs }

Impact in relation to goals } } }

Additionality Attributes Other goals?

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Compliance vs Voluntary markets

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Cost Gillenwater, 2008 Gillenwater, 2014

Renewable Energy & RECs Market Regional states use credits to meet Renewable Portfolio Standards

Vermont Utilities sell Renewable Energy Credits in regional market Generators produce renewable energy credits with each renewable kWh generated

Vermont Electric Utilities Service Map UVM Campus – already receiving RECs through Burlington Electric Department.

UVM has 33 electric accounts outside of Burlington Electric Service Territory Among these accounts are 12 extension offices, one in each county, and 10 in GMP Territory.

ERGO, Cow Power is a local REC product that seems to dovetail with the mission of UVM Extension‌

Electricity Cost by Service Area Burlington Electric Department (BTV Campus) Green Mountain Power (Extension offices) $531,458 (7%)

$7,626,307 (93%)

Anaerobic Digestion

Source:Woodchuck Cider

Why Cow Power for Extension Offices?

UVM Extension supporting VT rural communities

Cow Power Impacts A Sustainability Assessment of Cow Power in VT

Sustainability Assessment of Cow Power Program }

Multi Criteria Analysis

Equitable Economy

Viable

Sustainable

Society

Bearable Environment Source: gscouncil.org

MCA of COW POWER Environmental Impacts

Social/Economic

Financial

1. Renewable Generation

1.Income diversification

REC cost comparisons

2.GHG Emissions

2.Farmer resiliency & independence

UVM Investment Extension

3.Water Quality

3. Grid stability

UVM Investment All GMP

4.Byproducts

VT as energy innovator

5.Waste Stream Diversion

Odor reduction

6.Life cycle assessment

Working landscape preservation

7.Negative impacts

Educational Opportunities

Profiles of Operators

A. Environmental Impacts A1. Renewable energy generation A2. Climate change and GHG emissions A3. Water quality impacts and nutrient management A4. Byproducts A5. Waste stream diversion potential A6. Life cycle assessments of anaerobic digestion systems A7. Negative environmental impacts

A2. Climate change and carbon neutrality }

Lower GHG emissions for dairy farms (Vries et al, 2012; EPA, 2012; Battini et al, 2014).

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Methane diversion } } }

Reduction level dependent on storage scenarios 1 metric ton methane = 21 carbon offsets (EPA, 2012) CVPS Cow Power 2010 4 metric tons of CO2 equivalent through carbon dioxide reduction

16,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent through methane diversion

Equal to 3,000 cars off the road

Source: Manure De Jure,2010

A3. Water quality & nutrient management }

At worst = improved storage and application impacts 1.

2.

Manure able to be stored and applied in warm weather when uptake is best (Manure De Jure, 2010) Thinner liquid has better uptake rates and less likely to burn (Manure De Jure, 2010)

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At best = nutrient removal through sale of byproducts

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Solids separated from liquid digestate sold as bedding, removes phosphorus (EPA,2012)

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Shown to reduce eutrophication due to lower field emissions (Battini et al, 2014).

Farms and Cows in VT % Cows Managed by Farm Size

2%

0% 1%

18%

% Cows Managed by Farm Size

4% 15%

16%

20%

500 or more 39% 1-499 61%

24% (1 TO 9 HEAD) (20 TO 49 HEAD) (100 TO 199 HEAD) (500 TO 999 HEAD) (2,500 OR MORE HEAD)

(10 TO 19 HEAD) (50 TO 99 HEAD) (200 TO 499 HEAD) (1,000 TO 2,499 HEAD)

Source: Census of Ag. 2012

Number of Cows for which manure is handled by a Digester 35,000 31,063 30,000

27,783 24,403

25,000

22,489 20,639

20,000 Number of cows 15,000 10,000 6,745 5,000 0

585

435

1-9

10-19

20-49

50-99 100-199 200-499 500-999 Herd size

1000+

Certifications (Eg. Greene) }

NEW

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NO DOUBLE SELLING

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BEYOND BAU

SE. Social/ Economic Impacts

Farm Business Income diversification Farmer Resiliency & Independence Innovating Sustainable Energy Systems Odor Reduction Working Landscapes Preservation Consistent Power, Grid stabilizer Educational Opportunities

More expensive to build and maintain than solar or wind Hard to implement on small farms

Profile of VT farmscale digester operations

Farmers on the intangible nature of RECs

“I’ve never seen a REC… Maybe it looks like a widget? Whatever they are, we get several thousand dollars per year from them. Pretty good sales for a product we’ve never seen.” –VT small scale farm digester operator

F. Financial Impacts }

F1. REC Cost Comparisons

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F2. UVM Investment for extension

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F3. UVM Investment for all GMP

F1. REC Cost Comparisons Nationwide Green-e Certified Retail REC Products (Verified January 2015 with regular updates) Certificate Marketer

Product Name

Renewable Resources

Residential Price Premiums*

3Degrees

National Renewable Energy Certificates

100% wind, solar, geothermal, low-impact hydro, biogas, biomass

0.5¢/kWh-1.5¢/kWh

3 Phases Renewables

Green Certificates

100% biomass, geothermal, hydro, solar, wind 1.2¢/kWh

Arcadia Power

Wind Energy

100% new wind

0.5¢/kwh-1.5¢/kwh

Bonneville Environmental Foundation

Renewable Energy Certificates

wind, low-impact hydro, biogas, landfill gas, geothermal, solar

0.8¢/kWh

Carbon Solutions Group

CSG CleanBuild

biomass, biogas, wind, solar, hydro

.15¢/kWh - .5¢/kWh

Community Energy

NewWind Energy

100% new wind

2.5¢/kWh

Green Mountain Power Cow Power

Farm-scale biogas

4¢/kWh

North American Power

American Wind

100% wind

1.5¢/kWh

Renewable Choice Energy

American Wind

100% new wind

2.0¢/kWh

Sterling Planet

Sterling Wind

100% new wind

1.5¢/kWh

Notes: * Product prices are updated as of January 2015. Premium may also apply to small commercial customers. Large users may be able to negotiate price premiums.

Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

F2. UVM investment Extension Calculations

27,135sq ft 431,280 kWh/yr $17,251/yr

F3. UVM investment for all GMP

4,010,835 kWh/yr Cow Power $.04/kWh $160,433/yr

Feedback from Extension }

Nice gesture every small amount helps }

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Good solution for short term, conversation starter }

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Drop in the bucket for overall market

What long term innovation around digesters is happening at UVM?

WHAT ?? }

Not aware of or knowledgeable about digesters. Interested to know

Further Recommendations }

Research RECs and Carbon Offsets in more detail to better understand the purchases and claims associated with them }

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Consider using a broker, but always have a knowledgable person at UVM- worth educating yourself in-house

Sustainability Assessments for other REC options to compare with Cow Power } } }

Engage UVM community Transparent decision process Provides evidence for choices and marketing of mission

Additional conclusions }

Energy Hub at UVM?

Ya’ll want a sticker on your door?

What are your thoughts? Questions?

Sources }

Global sourcing council: http://gscouncil.org/the-3s-scorecard-a-valuable-tool-for-promoting-sociallyresponsible-sourcing/

NASA Sources : NASA-GISS surface temperature analysis: http://climate.nasa.gov/key_indicators#globalTemp See more at: http://ete.cet.edu/gcc/?/globaltemp_teacherpage/#sthash.KpP9ba55.dpuf http://climate.nasa.gov/news/916/ Delhagen, E. (2008). Farm Energy Innovation In Vermont: A Report to the Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council. Verenda Ventures LLC. Available at: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/environment/?Page=energy.html Smith, A. (2015). Understanding H.40 the bill to RESET Vermont’s renewable energy future. Channel 17 Town Meeting Television. Available at: https://www.cctv.org/watch-tv/programs/understanding-h-40-bill-resetvermont%E2%80%99s-renewable-energy-future-annette-smith-vce GMP. (2015). Cow Power for Farmers and Others Seeking Greener Pastures. Internal Document.

Manure De Jure https://meeting.psu.edu/p87868929/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal }

Vries, J.W., Groenestein, C.W., De Boer, I.J.M. (2012). Environmental consequences of processing manure to produce mineral fertilizer and bio-energy. Journal of Environmental Management. 102.

173-183.

Upcoming Presentations: BioCycle Conference, October 20-21 }

Demystifying Cow Power: Multicriteria Analysis of UVM's Renewable Energy Credit Purchases

Abstract: In 2007, the University of Vermont (UVM) signed the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. UVM’s 2010 Climate Action Plan sets a goal of purchasing 100% local, renewable, climate-neutral electricity in 2015. “Climate neutrality” includes accounting for methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as well as carbon dioxide. As of 2015, UVM facilities in Burlington are supplied with electricity from local hydroelectric facilities through the Burlington Electric Department. Locations outside Burlington including county extension offices are served by Green Mountain Power, which offers Cow Power™, electricity produced by farm scale digesters in the Vermont. Vermont H.40 (RESET) is a bill requiring electric utilities to cut carbon emissions, and also requiring that some REC credits must come from electricity generated in Vermont. The requirement increases 4 percent every three years from 55 percent in 2017 to 75 percent in 2032. In addition to talking to the extension office staff and faculty about these energy decisions, the research team is conducting a sustainability assessment of the Cow Power RECs Purchase using a multi-criteria analysis. The environmental impacts will be considered via a lifecycle impact assessment. Social and economic impacts will be measured with a profile of the farms operating the anaerobic digesters and the embedded relationships with the power service companies. The financial impacts will be assessed at the costs to UVM, the cost of these renewable energy credits compared to other renewable energy credit options, and the financial impact on cow power.