Moo Brew? Cows To Power Craft Brewery

BRIDGEWATER, Vt. -- Vermont-based Long Trail Brewing Co. plans to sign a contract to become the largest commercial customer of Central Vermont Public Service's "Cow Power" program.

The announcement on Tuesday was timed for Earth Day.

CVPS works with farmers to install special equipment that uses methane gas that's given off by manure to generate electricity.

Customers can pay a 4-cent-per-kilowatt-hour premium for the so-called Cow Power, which helps farmers pay for the equipment.

The craft beer company said enrolling in Cow Power is part of its Eco Brew program that includes the use of heat recovery, bio-diesel, recycling, water conservation and giving eight tons of mash -- the spent grain that is a byproduct of the brewing process -- to local farms daily to feed their cows.