Handy Toyota accelerates its environmental mission through Cow Power (April 24, 2009)

St. Albans, Vt. – Handy Toyota, the first auto dealership in the country to enroll in a manure-powered energy program, will host a renewable energy fair to celebrate and spread the word about CVPS Cow Power™, and provide new incentives to support renewable energy development in Vermont.

“This has added meaning for Handy Toyota since four of the six existing Cow Power producers are located in Franklin County, our home and the largest dairy-producing county in the United States east of the Mississippi,” said Adam Luneau, Handy Toyota’s business development manager.  “Our enrollment in Cow Power will help reduce agricultural environmental impacts on water and air quality, and improve economics for farmers.  That is critical to Vermont’s environment and economy.”

When contacting CVPS about enrollment, Luneau said he wanted to go far beyond just purchasing renewable energy.  “Given our ability to reach out to Vermonters, and the fact that we sell a tremendous number of hybrid vehicles, we saw an opportunity help market the program and help it grow significantly,” Luneau said.  “We are expanding our environmental mission and hope to educate thousands of others about the importance of renewable energy development, specifically Cow Power.”

Toward that end, the first annual Handy Toyota Renewable Energy Fair will be held May 2 and will start at 9:30 a.m. at the dealership in downtown St. Albans.  The event will include renewable energy displays, free food, a Prius owners’ forum and mileage competition, door prizes, local Cow Power farm owners, and information on a new partnership between Handy Toyota and CVPS Cow Power™.

In addition to purchasing all of its energy through CVPS Cow Power™, under the partnership, Handy Toyota will donate $60 to the CVPS Renewable Development Fund for every Toyota hybrid (Camry, Highlander or Prius) sold during the remainder of the year, and will co-market the program in dealership advertising.  The fund provides incentives for dairy farmers to build new cow power digesters as part of the CVPS Cow Power™ program.

“We want to do more than just purchase Cow Power, we want to help CVPS continue to expand this program and help as many farms as possible to join the Cow Power herd,” Luneau said.  “Our hybrid owners share a tremendous concern for global environmental issues, and we want to provide an incentive to their purchase that will have additional benefits.”

Since farm methane is roughly 20 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, Handy Toyota’s commitment to be the first new car franchise in the country to purchase 100 percent of its electricity through Cow Power will have a substantial impact.  Handy’s energy use, supplied by Cow Power, will have an environmental result equivalent to removing the greenhouse gases created by burning 29,966 gallons of gasoline per year.

“That’s a meaningful impact,” CVPS Cow Power™ Manager David Dunn said. “The donation Handy will make for each Toyota Hybrid sold will provide considerable benefits to future farm producers of Cow Power.”

The Cow Power process is simple: manure and other agricultural waste are held in a sealed concrete tank at the same temperature as a cow’s stomach, 101 degrees. Bacteria digest the volatile components, creating methane and killing pathogens and weed seeds. The methane fuels an engine/generator.  The process kills almost all manure odors, and provides a soft material for bedding animals.

The Handy Toyota Renewable Energy Fair will include displays on Cow Power, CVPS plug ‘n go, a program designed to help hybrid owners extend their mileage and reduce environmental impacts, and the Vermont Clothing Company.  Jay Cummings, VCC’s owner, will be on hand to share information about the company’s newest organic clothing line.  Cummings is a Cow Power advocate and proud Cow Power customer for over a year.  He was instrumental in getting Handy Toyota into the program.

“Handy Toyota and Vermont Clothing Company share a love for Vermont’s beauty, a concern for our dairy industry and a desire to protect our environment,” Cummings said.  “We both want to share those things with our customers.”

CVPS customers can choose to receive all, half or a quarter of their electrical energy through Cow Power, and pay a premium of 4 cents per kilowatt hour.  It goes to participating farm-producers, to purchase renewable energy credits when enough farm energy isn’t available, or to the CVPS Renewable Development Fund.

CVPS Cow Power™ has been repeatedly honored since its creation in 2004.  The program won the Vermont Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in 2005-2006 and the Finalist’s Commendation in the 2007 Edison Electric Institute’s annual Edison Award competition, named for Thomas Edison.  In 2008, “Power Magazine” named CVPS Cow Power™ one of five “Top Plants” worldwide.

Handy Toyota has been serving Franklin County automotive needs since Floyd Handy opened the doors of the first Handy dealership in 1952. The family owned business includes five second- and third-generation Handy family members in daily operations. Handy Toyota is owned by Dan and Karen Luneau and Dan Handy.

For Immediate Release: April 24, 2009
Contacts: Steve Costello, CVPS (802) 747-5427
Adam Luneau @ 802 527-7512 x35, aluneau@dt.handycars.com