Piggy Power

Legion Field, Indiana – for CBS News

Indiana’s seven ethanol plants and a fledgling wind power program are a pathetic response to the risks of climate change. But you can’t say the same for the small town of Reynolds, Ind. They have a population of just 500 people. But they have plenty of pigs.…150,000 in all.

Down the road, one of the nation’s largest dairy farms is proving that on a smaller scale … you can use livestock to light your home.

“Each cow produces 100 pounds of manure a day. So we have a pretty good source of raw supply,” said Gary Corbitt, who runs Fair Oaks Farm.

That’s enough methane gas to power all of Fair Oaks Farm – or more than 700 homes.

They installed the technology 18 months ago, and so far they’re barely breaking even.

“It’s been expensive but we’re absolutely convinced it is the way to go and it is the future,” he said.

And that’s how tiny Reynolds became “Bio-Town, USA,” the first town in the country to attempt to go entirely off-grid.

They traded in their cars for “flex-fuel” vehicles, so they could fill up with an ethanol blend made from local corn. And that’s now a full dollar cheaper than regular gas.

A few years ago, the small town had a big idea: What if the pigs could power the whole town?

“If you look at your gas and electric bill, it’ll motivate you to do something. We have to do something,” said Rick Buschman, who’s on the Reynolds Town Board.

They broke ground on the plant to turn pig waste into power in 2006. But today, it’s still an empty field.

“We’re into a situation where sometimes the technology just isn’t what we expected,” said Cary Aubrey of the Indiana Department of Agriculture.