SACRAMENTO, Jan. 3 A power company, digester manufacturer and California dairy ranches are joining forces to add natural gas to the state's pipeline system.Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Microgy, and six dairies in the central San Joaquin Valley intend to put 8 billion cubic feet of natural gas into PG&E's pipeline by early 2008.More than 90 percent of California's dairy cows are in the Valley area, Capital Press reports.Microgy's digesters will capture methane gas from the cow manure, remove carbon dioxide and water vapor, and pump what the company believes to be enough gas to heat 50,000 homes a year into the pipelines.We have state-of-the-art digester technology, and we can produce gas at very competitive prices, Microgy Senior Vice President Jeff Dasovich said. He said the project will also reduce 800,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year.It is a big step forward for the environment, and it is going to be good economically for dairy farmers and good for PG&E as well, said Michael Marsh, president and chief executive officer of Western United Dairymen. We are excited about the opportunity this presents to make these renewable-energy projects work economically for both dairies and utilities.Copyright 2007 by UPI
