Providers call for swine waste project bids

To meet a state requirement that power companies must use swine waste to produce electricity in North Carolina, the state's electric suppliers have issued a joint request for proposals (RFP) for electricity generated from swine waste facilities in the state.

Progress Energy will head up the RFP process.

Pork producers interested in submitting a proposal should do so by April 15. Progress Energy expects to award contracts by October 1.

The state utilities commission ordered suppliers to work together to meet the statewide requirement to produce .07% of the energy they sell from swine waste by 2012 and .14% by 2015.

The North Carolina Pork Council is pleased that power providers will work jointly to identify energy projects and that pork producers can take advantage of federal investment tax credits for any projects commissioned in 2010.