First Manure-Powered Carnival Ride Makes Its Debut

Last week, I wrote about a farm in China that will power itself entirely with chicken manure. Now poop power has made it to mainstream America with an announcement that the California State Fair will play host to the first known amusement ride powered by cow manure.

The Barnyard Animal Train will use excrement from California dairy cows to create renewable biogas. Kids taking a ride on the train will also have the opportunity to learn about renewable energy— and of course, will get to experience it firsthand.

At first glance, this may not seem like a big deal. But state fairs around the United States are joining the alternative energy wagon, albeit not always by using cow manure.

The Minnesota State Fair will feature a wind energy center, the Wisconsin State Fair will contain an energy park, and the North Carolina State Fair will play host to a model “green home”.

I remember most of my state and county fair experiences from when I was a kid—so if the exhibits at these state fairs are any indication, today’s children will have their eye on renewables for a long time to come.

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Ariel Schwartz (374 Posts)

Ariel Schwartz was formerly the editor of CleanTechnica and is a contributor at Fast Company, Inhabitat, Triple Pundit, SF Weekly, and NBC Bay Area Online. A graduate of Vassar College, she has previously worked in publishing, organic farming, documentary film, and newspaper journalism. Her interests include permaculture, hiking, skiing, music, relocalization, and cob (the building material). She currently resides in San Francisco, CA.

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Uncle B

Large scale power generation from piggeries and stockyards can off-set wasteful American power usage, and produce a good topsoil building fertilizer sludge as well as prevent harmful nutrients from ruining good waterways all at the same time! Sounds very “European efficiency” to me, and won’t appeal to Americans who like to wallow in pig-shit up to their necks and whine about it too! In the post (GRD) great republican depression era, many former American factory workers will be more than willing to shovel pig shit and the like into the fermenting tanks for nearly nothing in wages, part-time for sure, and stoned on something or other as usual! Asia, in the mean time will push into sustainable lifestyles around the factory floors, producing shiny bubbles for the delight of American Uber-rich, like the very cheap Buick Lesabres GM has already taught them to do, and for the equivalent of 85 cents an hour! We are soooo F**ked it is hard to believe, and poop-powered novelties at carnivals are surely a sign of the times. most of us are in debt to the eyeballs, some of us are already foreclosed, a few of us are moving to shanty towns, and the Uber- rich and their Arab accomplices buy Verons, SUV’s, Rolls Royce’s and Corvettes while pick the dumps and call it recycling! Life in America is a carnie ride, poop power and all!
Uncle B

Large scale power generation from piggeries and stockyards can off-set wasteful American power usage, and produce a good topsoil building fertilizer sludge as well as prevent harmful nutrients from ruining good waterways all at the same time! Sounds very “European efficiency” to me, and won’t appeal to Americans who like to wallow in pig-shit up to their necks and whine about it too! In the post (GRD) great republican depression era, many former American factory workers will be more than willing to shovel pig shit and the like into the fermenting tanks for nearly nothing in wages, part-time for sure, and stoned on something or other as usual! Asia, in the mean time will push into sustainable lifestyles around the factory floors, producing shiny bubbles for the delight of American Uber-rich, like the very cheap Buick Lesabres GM has already taught them to do, and for the equivalent of 85 cents an hour! We are soooo F**ked it is hard to believe, and poop-powered novelties at carnivals are surely a sign of the times. most of us are in debt to the eyeballs, some of us are already foreclosed, a few of us are moving to shanty towns, and the Uber- rich and their Arab accomplices buy Verons, SUV’s, Rolls Royce’s and Corvettes while pick the dumps and call it recycling! Life in America is a carnie ride, poop power and all!
Indy207

I can see the headlines now:

carnival riders said it was a “mooving” experience

Wall Street bullish on new manure mover

Ebert says “two horns up”

girls named Pattie not pleased

electric utilities poo poo the idea…

producer of cow poo power says. “hey, would i steer you wrong?”

Elsie quoted as saying, if you want a ride, pull my hoof, or tail even…

film at eleven

Submitted with apologies in advance.
Indy207

I can see the headlines now:

carnival riders said it was a “mooving” experience

Wall Street bullish on new manure mover

Ebert says “two horns up”

girls named Pattie not pleased

electric utilities poo poo the idea…

producer of cow poo power says. “hey, would i steer you wrong?”

Elsie quoted as saying, if you want a ride, pull my hoof, or tail even…

film at eleven

Submitted with apologies in advance.