It's foul and untouchable, but also packed with energy and endless in supply.
Human waste may well become North Carolina's leading animal source of green fuel for generating electricity.
A wastewater-treatment plant in Cabarrus County expects to start burning processed human excrement as early as next year to generate its own electricity. Raleigh and Durham Counties have waste-to-energy projects in various stages of planning, and others are expected to follow.
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For the past few years, talk of animal waste in North Carolina was focused on using pig dung and poultry droppings as a green fuel. But the cost of processing and transporting animal waste from farms, along with pollution concerns associated with incinerating the stuff, has delayed or stalled projects.
The energy content of the man-made fuel is comparable to that of wood, says Robert Rubin, a professor of biological and agricultural engineering.
Even so, converting human waste into fuel could draw unwanted attention to the raw material involved, he admits.
"Most people out there will tell you, you don't play with poop," says Rubin. "Waste treatment is a very emotional issue."
