Viva Verde

On Sunday I had the honor of attending Woodbury University's "Viva Verde" Fashion Gala and Scholarship Fundraising Dinner. It was the university's way of saying "thank you" to the NTRA for all that both Santa Anita Park and it did for their students over the course of the meet. It seems like the Ambassador Program just does not run out of nice surprises.

Ok, now while I certainly have a "cool" side, I'm not nearly chic enough to have gone to something like this before. I was really looking forward to the experience but figured I'd be a fish out of water. Fortunately my liaison, Ms. Bowley, was a former assistant trainer, making the transition from horse racing to fashionista easier.

As it turned out the experience was a great opportunity to meet a lot of very important people and help ensure that horse racing still remains fashionable. Besides having a moment with the university's president, I also had the chance to shake hands with a lot of financially important people. The words "Oaks" and "Derby" seemed to be on many lips and when the question of the dark side of horse racing reared up I was quick to promote the Safety and Integrity Alliance. Cards were exchanged and promises made to attend the next Ambassador Program season at Del Mar. As Ms. Bowley pointed out, a lot of the well to do might be interested in becoming thoroughbred owners after the experience. Here's hoping that NTRA Certified Stables can get in motion to help fill that desire.

The fashion show seemed like something right out of ABC's "Ugly Betty". Lots of loud music, camera flashes, and some clothes you'd never see anyone dare wear in real life. The theme of the show was "eco-friendly" and "sustainable", prompting the designers to use recycled materials in their designs. For example, one dress appeared to have been made out of a black fibered tarp, while another had its entire skirt made of peacock feathers.

My favorite line from the evening came during the swimsuit portion of the show. When a comment was made about all the scantily clad fillies I was quick to come back with, "But they only have two legs, not four."

The green theme of the night made me consider what horse racing could do to be a better neighbor. What about the solid waste that race tracks generate? An average thoroughbred produces approximately 50 pounds of manure a day. Consequently major tracks, like Santa Anita, which have well over 1,000 horses in year round residence, have to contend with what to do with twenty five tons of solid waste every day. (Currently they sell it to a fertilizer company.)

Besides the space consumed and its smell, all this manure is actually an environmental hazard. Scientists report that one of our major ozone depleters is methane gas, the main component of flattace. The main source for methane (CH4) released into our environment comes from large dairy cow herds. Scientists are urging a reduction in the amount of methane pollution in order to preserve the ozone layer that protects us from lethal solar radiation.

While collecting methane gas sounds like a farce, it’s actually quite profitable.

Methane (CH4) is very similar in composition to propane (C3H8) and therefore flammable. Methane is a by-product of crude oil production, usually found in the top layer of underground oil pockets. Drillers used to burn the methane off, now they collect it, condense it, pipe it, and use it to fire boilers thousands of miles away. The steam generated is used to heat buildings and turn turbines, creating the electricity that powers our every day lives. Methane is very clean burning, prompting environmentally conscious states such as California to derive the majority of its electricity from this energy source.

Unfortunately methane from oil production is considered a non-renewable source. Once the oil runs out, it will too. However Biogas, which is the same methane, just from a different source (manure), is renewable. So as long as there are dairy cattle and thoroughbreds companies such as BioEnergy Solutions can be in the business of turning poo into profits.

What BioEnergy Solutions does is set up shop at large manure producing operations. Manure is collected and stored in large sealed containers that accelerate decomposition, rapidly releasing large amounts of methane. These amounts are collected, refined, and condensed. Trucks then collect the liquefied methane gas and haul it to be consumed at nearby electric generators. Because Biogas is a renewable energy source and because states such as California require that by 2010, 20% of all electricity must come from renewable sources, Biogas is high in demand and therefore can fetch a lucrative price.

But that's not all. The government recognizes that because this trapped methane is sparing our environment, they give extra incentive to containing it by granting emission credits. What emission credits are is the legal right to pollute without a fine. Every polluting business is granted an emissions allowance. Just like you see in your electric bill, if you go over your monthly allotment then you have to pay the price in increased rates. Polluting businesses such as steel manufactures buy unused emission credits from others in order to avoid hefty rate increases. BioEnergy Solutions sell their credits to these businesses to help offset their emissions debt. These credits are expensive, resulting in revenue for the seller.

Between the Biogas and emission credits, BioEnergy Solutions makes a handy profit, and after expenses, it shares its profits with the generating site. According to their website, this profit sharing results in hundreds of thousands in yearly revenue to the generating site. What race track wouldn't want another six figures onto the bottom line? Not to mention the good neighbor aspect would make horse racing look better to their surrounding communities. And because the Biogas collection process still spares the majority of the manure, race tracks can still sell it for fertilizer. So how about it horse racing? Want to "go green"?

Perseverance!