A lesson from the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act is that good ideas and the resulting mandates (e.g., use "best available control technology") are expensive. Here is an example from the N&O (Utilities beg ...):
North Carolina's electricity providers say poop-to-power isn't ready for prime time.
Progress Energy, Duke Energy and other providers have asked state regulators to delay and modify a 2007 state law that requires them to generate a minimum amount of energy from pig or chicken waste.
The law, designed to promote renewable energy and efficiency, requires utilities to begin getting some energy from pig and chicken litter by 2012.
The providers are seeking a one-year delay from the N.C. Utilities Commission. They're also asking to cut the minimum energy requirement from poultry waste starting in 2014 by a third.
North Carolina is a leading producer of pork and poultry, but disposing of waste presents major environmental challenges. Turning some of that waste into electricity holds promise, but also has raised worries about cost and pollution.The utilities have been seeking proposals for waste-to-energy projects, but say they've gotten only limited and expensive bids.
That stinks!
*Note: I'm following the N&O's lead in calling it poop.
