April 8, 2008 Cow power takes one Vermont company green Play video

(NECN: St. Albans, Vermont) - Forget oil, one New England manufacturer is turning to cow power to fuel its environmentally friendly factory. NECN's Anya Huneke takes a look at the Vermont Clothing Company and the methane gas that keeps them going.

Jay Cummings is convinced his new line of clothing and products will be a big hit. Not necessarily because of style...but more, statement.

Jay: "We're reaching a critical mass of the Green movement - it's definitely here to stay."

Through his promotional products company in St. Albans, Vermont - 'JC Image' - Cummings has launched the 'Vermont Clothing Company.' The company sells products such as T-shirts, bags, and mugs... all with a theme of environmental consciousness.

Jay: "I'm not really in the business of selling T-shirts...I'm in the business of promoting Vermont."

JC Image has had a green focus for years, the company reuses boxes, and relies on energy efficient lighting and equipment. But Cummings felt that wasn't quite enough.

Jay: "One item that was missing was electricity."

As it turned out, that was an easy fix. Through a program called CVPS Cow Power. The Vermont Clothing Company is able to essentially get all its electrical energy from Vermont farms."

Steve Costello, CVPS spokesperson: "Cow power is essentially a program to take waste, cow manure, turn it into electricity, and give customers a fully renewable

Bill Rowell co-owns one of a half dozen

Rowell: "If you'd told me when I was boy on a farm in Orleans county, that one day I would run an 8-cylinder engine on methane gas from cow manure producing electricity - I would've thought you were far-fetched."

Using manure from a thousand-plus cows, Green Mountain Dairy in Sheldon is able to create methane that in turn fuels a generator and sends electricity to the grid.

Bill: "We produce enough power here in a year to power 250-300 average households."

The power is sold to customers of Central Vermont Public Service who opt to pay more for renewable energy. For the Vermont Clothing Company, it will be about a thousand dollars more per year.

Steve: "We see Vermont Clothing Company as really wearing its environmental ethic on its sleeve, if you will. It's great for us and for them."

Jay Cumming agrees…for the environment, for the state, and for his company, it will be money well spent.