What would you do with 2400 tons of manure produced daily in your community?
Most communities would assume the responsibility of exporting this waste to fall on the shoulders of the producer- the local farmer- however, a small, rural community is taking a different approach. Fowler, Colorado, located southeast of Pueblo, Colorado, has set a community vision to stay vibrant and progressive through the power of renewable energy and implementation of sustainability initiatives. This Town is literally converting 2400 tons of manure into energy (approximately 8 mgw of power) with the forthcoming construction of an anaerobic digestive plant. Not only will this plant produce enough alternative energy to power the households of this Town, it will also provide the farmers with a much needed income stream, and sell back any excess energy produced to the local grid in exchange for the disbursement of dividends to residents. Further, the Fowler School District is involving the students in the Town’s efforts to provide education on the benefits of green building and green infrastructure.
Students will be invited to participate on the Town’s New Energy Resources commission, an objective set by the leaders of the Town, while the Town integrates their renewable energy and sustainability efforts into educational sessions for the students. There is a lot of uncertainty in the world today, but there is much we can control at the local level, as emphasized by the Town of Fowler. “Think Globally, Act Locally”, is not just a great cliche but it reminds us of the importance of implementing green building and infrastructure efforts at the local level. Some communities are ready to move rapidly to protect the climate and implement green building standards, while others will move more slowly. The goal each local community adopts will depend upon how quickly it is ready to move.
Through green building and infrastructure local communities have to set targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which are aggressive but achievable. They will need to harness renewable energy by creating and implementing policies that will shape the future of green building within their influence areas. The Town of Fowler has accomplished this and has shown that pioneering a new approach is always risky, but the rewards of success far outweigh the risk. |
