Denver Zoo Drops Plan To Burn Dung For Power

(Courtesy Flickr user Greg Goebel) 

The zoo has installed a gasification system to reduce waste and generate some of the zoo's energy needs. But the system was never tested and now it won't be used. Officials say resources are tight because of a new zoo master plan that calls for major new exhibits.

“We're so close; we're really proud," said zoo spokeswoman Tiffany Barnhart. "We still believe in this technology. We're just not able to get it there with our other priorities.”

Barnhart hopes a group will be willing to take the equipment and make the system work at another location. 

“If you took that and put that in college campuses, municipal government facilities, those kind of things, it could be a real game changer for the environment," Barnhart said.

Neighbors had complained the project would be bad for air quality.