Agricultural Waste

Converting agricultural waste, particularly chicken litter, into electricity is an abundant resource in Georgia. As the country's leading poultry producer, Georgia has the potential to produce more renewable energy via agricultural waste than through other sources, including landfill gas-to-electric projects.

Benefits of chicken litter-to-energy projects include the fact that the gasification technology used to convert litter into energy produces lower emissions; the energy conserved means less reliance on fossil fuels. The process transforms the litter waste into a renewable energy resource that becomes a most valuable commodity-electricity.

Green Power EMC announced recently it will begin purchasing 20 megawatts of electricity from Plant Carl, the state's first poultry litter-to-energy operation. The electricity will be provided by Earth Resources Inc., which is constructing the premier chicken litter-to-electricity plant near Carnesville, about 70 miles northeast of Atlanta.

When complete in fall of 2008, the $20 million facility will generate enough energy each year to meet the needs of more than 15,000 homes. The poultry litter-to-electricity project has attracted interest from universities, government agencies, utility companies and agri-business interests. According to Abit Massey with the Georgia Poultry Federation, the facility will provide an additional opportunity for poultry growers to utilize the litter that is a by-product of their farms.

"Green Power EMC continues to assist its members in diversifying their energy resources and their renewable energy portfolio," says Michael Whiteside, president/CEO of Green Power EMC. "This technology will benefit businesses, farmers, EMC customers, residents of Georgia and the environment."

How it works: Gasification technology is used to convert poultry litter into renewable energy.
Current status: Georgia's first chicken litter-to-electricity plant is scheduled to go online in 2008.