Government’s Role in Renewable Energy Development

The renewable energy push across the globe bodes well for growing movements such as Cow Power. Supportive public policy provides the most effective way to increase the use of renewable energy.

Laws in Europe, specifically Ireland, portray the essential role public policy plays in shifting towards a more energy-efficient country.  The Irish economy is growing due in part to their approach to renewable energy. Ireland has emerged as the greenest country in Europe by making the people reconsider their views on clean energy through the taxation of fossil fuels and rubbish.

Fossil fuels are taxed in the use of “homes, offices, cars, and factories.” Instead of paying more, the Irish have gone green. Their carbon dioxide emissions have “dropped 15 per cent since 2008.”

According the International Renewable Energy Agency, “investment in renewable energy power generation depends on stable regulatory frameworks.” The agency believes “renewables are the best ways for oil importing countries to save money.”

Despite the gradual decrease of oil imports since 2005, the “United States relied on net imports (imports minus exports) for about 45% of the petroleum (crude oil and petroleum products) that we consumed in 2011.”  A stronger emphasis on renewable energy could lessen reliance on oil imports.

Renewable and sustainable energy programs such as Cow Power are even more important for the US to not only invest in, but focus more on laws that provide a supportive and enabling environment to foster innovation and expansion.

Do you think the U.S. government has done enough to help increase renewable and sustainable energy  use and development?

Renewable Energy News – Tool Determines Amount of Renewable Energy from Waste

I could only laugh when initially confronted with the idea of using cow poop to create electricity. Renewable energy pioneers continue to showcase their creative minds and turn my laughter into curiosity.

In the UK a new tool calculates the amount of energy that would result from the “combustion” of various combinations of waste material.

“This new method uses an image and microwave analysis tool. When placed above a conveyor belt in a waste treatment facility, it is able to accurately determine the composition of a mixed waste material and subsequently calculate how much renewable energy is derived from each individual component in the waste stream.”

Cow manure isn’t involved in this story, but it’s incredibly fascinating how the things people devalue in their lives can be utilized to create energy.

I constantly find myself discarding belongings that are not useful. I am the polar opposite of a pack rat. If such programs and tools become commonplace or instituted near you, then you can inform others that their trash could be used to power homes. Trash offers the earth a brighter future.

How is it that what we deem as “waste” offers contradictory possibilities?

Cow Power Store Launch

If you’ve been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to show off your support for Cow Power, then the Cow Power: The Film Store launch has answered your daily prayers.

The few yet choice items would suit you well in any capacity. Perhaps, you can feel like a member of the CP Film team and purchase a “Peach, Love & Cows” t-shirt. When I wear mine every passerby takes notice. The shirt’s unique design boldly states your undying support for using cow manure to create renewable energy.

If that’s too loud of a statement, then grab a Cow Power logo sticker that looks swanky on a laptop, car, backpack or any item that voices your love for Cow Power. The store offers small ways to show your support for the innovative program and film.

Cow Power Spreading its Influence Across the U.S.

The Cow Power Film’s trailer released recently. Cow Power’s mailing list improved substantially over the last couple weeks. Holly C. won an authentic Cow Power t-shirt give away for joining the mailing list on the film’s website. If you haven’t already, join the mailing list!

Allison-Jane Gillette, the film’s producer/director/creator, spoke at the U.S. Dairy’s Sustainability Summit in Chicago, IL. The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy bolsters a strong commitment “to foster innovation in environmental sustainability“. The center’s goal is to “[provide] consumers with the nutritious dairy products they want, in a way that makes the industry, people, and earth economically, environmentally, and socially better“.

Cow Power fulfills the Innovation Center’s goal by creating a more sustainable environment on dairy farms by turning cow manure into electricity. If spread across the U.S., the process can provide up to “10% of the nation’s energy needs“.

The CP Film’s trailer, Allison’s invitation to speak at the summit, and the Moovement’s recognition by numerable Hollywood executives points to the growing support across the country.

Cow Power Film Trailer Available Tomorrow

Dear Cow Power Supporters,

Visit the Cow Power Film website to be one of the first to see the newly released trailer of the upcoming Cow Power Film. The trailer will be available at 2 pm tomorrow.

If you’ve been anxiously waiting the film then this will whet your appetite. Perhaps you know nothing about Cow Power, then the trailer is the perfect opportunity  to learn about the Moovement.

Ben and Jerry’s Cow Power on Ireallylikefood

Recently Cow Power made a brief appearance at Ireallylikefood.com speaking about the Cow Power Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavor.

Whether you realize it or not,  Cow Power is intimately linked with food. I know you don’t want to think about cow manure when eating your lunch or dreaming about this amazing restaurant you heard about, but dairy farms, the foundation of dairy food products, stand as the stronghold for the Cow Power Moovment.

All foodies, whether you call yourself one or not, should support Cow Power. These cows are changing the face of renewable energy in agriculture and essential to the creation of your favorite ice cream, milk, cheese, and other dairy products.

The Cow Power Film will be releasing a trailer soon that tells the story of the Vermont dairy farms and the Vermonters working with Cow Power.

Foodies, support Cow Power, watch the trailer, and join the Moovement.

Cow Power Film Trailer Releases Soon

The Cow Power Film will be releasing a trailer soon. Be the first to catch a glimpse of the documentary film that will transform your perspective on renewable and sustainable energy created by Cow Power on dairy farms.

The Cow Power Film tells a story that goes beyond a little bit of cow poop. It’s a tale involving not only cows, but the dairy farmers, the Vermonters who have gathered behind this incredible cause, and the creation of renewable and sustainable energy.

Whether you’ve seen a cow up close, visited a dairy farm, or love to dip your double stuffed Oreos into a tall glass of cool milk, you should support this moovement and watch the trailer.

The film brings you into the fold, introduces the people who are determined to change the face of energy, and it details the story that needs to be told. The trailer will mootivate you to join the moovement.

Ice Cream, Cow Manure and Renewable Energy Do Mix!

By Jim Gillette:

I recently spoke via phone with Green Mountain Power’s David Dunn in Rutland, VT. to get his reaction to Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc. introduction of a new CowPower flavored ice cream in London for World Animal Day on October 4^th.

Jim Gillette:  What do you think of the launch of Ben & Jerry’s new flavor, CowPower 8 days ago in London which supports standardization for housing, feeding, and health for dairy cows in the U.K.?

David Dunn:  When I first read the press about the CowPower flavor, I was really a bit miffed.  I personally had met with various people at Ben & Jerry’s in Vermont to ask them to both sign up to support Cow Power as a partner/customer, as well as work with us to develop a CowPower flavor to market test in Vermont  After asking repeatedly, and making no progress, I basically gave up.  That is the reason I was so surprised to see Ben & Jerry’s offering the Cow Power flavor in London.  Just what I asked for, but nowhere near Vermont.  I’ve since had a chance to cool down, and reduce my knee jerk reaction to better see the future potential of this.  The packaging, the recipe, and the idea is done, we just need to modify it for Vermont, and ultimately the rest of the country.  Focus on healthy, happy dairy cows is a mutual goal of Ben & Jerry’s, and me personally as well as my company, Green Mountain Power.

Jim Gillette:  Do you think the Cow Power renewable energy campaign both nationally and in Vermont could benefit by aligning itself with Ben & Jerry’s new CowPower ice cream flavor?

David Dunn:  Yes, I think that the Ben & Jerry’s brand and their marketing is much stronger than Green Mountain Power’s Cow Power Brand in Vermont, but I think Cow Power has its own international recognition from the renewable energy industry and young people especially looking for solutions to climate change and other environmental issues facing the world.

I think, with a little bit of editing to their CowPower packaging, we can tell the story that cows make more than milk and ice cream, they can make renewable energy to benefit our environment, and how socially important it is for people to help make that transition to renewable energy by supporting agriculture, food and renewable energy.

Jim Gillette:  In what ways?

David Dunn:  I think we could start in Vermont, where most people have heard of Cow Power, but have not seen our limited marketing materials.  We can put a small amount of information on the Ice Cream i.e.  To learn more…..  Talk about the partnership between Ben & Jerry’s and Cow Power farmers providing both the milk and cream for their products, and the Cow Power farmer taking wash water from Ben & Jerry’s to help produce more renewable energy and reduce costs and environmental impacts of their operations.

Solar energy, grows the crops that the cows eat, the milk goes from the farm to Ben & Jerry’s, and the milky rinse water, (with a few gummy bears, chocolate cows and some cookie dough) goes back to the farm to produce renewable energy and ultimately fertilize and irrigate the crops that will start the cycle again for next year.

Jim Gillette:  Do you think, introducing the “CowPower” ice cream flavor” here in the states, will help to promote the Cow Power renewable energy program?

David Dunn:  I think a partnership with Ben & Jerry’s will help spread the great conversation we started with Green Mountain Power Cow Power.  The Ben & Jerry’s brand has a much larger audience than our Green Mountain Power customers in Vermont.  The goal would be to improve the CowPower ice cream flavor packaging to include the renewable energy message, to help capture more “hearts and minds” with the concept of consumer supported renewable energy from the dairy farms that produce the high quality milk and cream that goes into Super Premium Ben & Jerry’s products.

 

Catch Up With the Crew: Anthony White Water Rafting

Anthony and his friends in their raft

Anthony doing a flip into the Kennebec River

A couple weeks ago I went on an annual white water rafting trip with a couple of my close friends. I drove the long six and a half hour trip to West Forks Maine. We all camped out in tents for a Saturday and Sunday eating delicious camp fire-cooked food, reminiscing about the past, and enjoying each others company.

Each morning, the seven of us headed out to the Kennebec river to ride the class four rapids. This was not my first rodeo, but for some it was. It was a cold weekend and being in moving water didn’t warm anyone up. The water, after a while, felt warmer than the air. Cold, yet determined, we all battled Mother Nature and had a blast doing so. Everyone had fun and was safe in the process. I can not wait for next years trip!

Cow Power in Los Angeles with Allison

“Pawn Stars” panel with Brent Montgomery

On September 9^th-12^th I took our film out to the west coast, for the first time, to attend the infamous WESTDOC 2012 conference. WESTDOC is a conference that brings the nations most successful business people in the documentary film world together to learn and network. They have everything from panel discussions, to screenings, to one-on-one sit downs with the nations top networks.  I was very lucky to sit in on several panels, attend many cocktail parties and have a one-on-one chat with Animal Planet’s VP of Production: Jason Carey.

Pacific Theater in Culver City where WESTDOC was held

The week served mainly as a place to get insight into “the business” that you cannot get from film school. I learned the importance of online distribution for a film like Cow Power as well as the unlikelihood it would get picked up by a network.  Fear not! Film’s can have very successful online distributions as is exemplified by indiegamethemovie.com. Depending on your online audience prior to making a deal with a company, your film (Cow Power for us!) can be sold to itunes, Hulu, SnagFilms or Voodoo.

Additionally, it isn’t the end of the world if you do not have a traditional theatrical run. After talking to Rick Allen of SnagFilms, we agree that the best thing for Cow Power would be to have a sponsored theatrical release where YOU get to vote on which cities we visit.  Make sure you stay in touch to find out when Cow Power is coming to your city by joining our mailing list at www.cowpowerfilm.com.

Overall, everyone was very impressed with the film. Like Jason Brubaker who couldn’t believe a bunch of college kids had figured out a marketing and internet plan that most adults need to use his Filmmaking Stuff website for!

I even got to have a little fun in Los Angeles and bring Cow Power to “new heights”

Cow Power got a great “rap” out in Los Angeles and as we are coming into the home stretch of editing, we are confident you will like it too! Thanks for following us and we can’t wait for you to become Cow imPOWERed too!