Manure from the hundreds of millions of farm animals is a big problem, but it's one that, with some work, could become a strong renewable energy resource. As farm animal production has become more concentrated, handling the manure and run-off have become a serious problem. But animal manure, a valuable fertilizer, also represents a gold mine as an energy source if the farmers can get enough economical and technological help in putting it to use. ORNL, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the University of Tennessee's Joint Institute for Energy and Environmental Studies have held national workshops and are collaborating on ways to help farmers install manageable and economical systems to treat farm waste and put it to good use.
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