Off the power grid

Is on-site energy production the answer to erratic electric service?

By JOAN LOWY, Scripps Howard News Service

For most Americans, a blip of a few seconds or even a few minutes in their electricity supply is a minor annoyance.

But for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in Waterbury, Vt., every blip meant dumping 600 pounds of burned beans, not to mention the potential for a serious fire and many hours of cleanup while production was halted.

That's because when power to roasting machines is interrupted, coffee beans may already be so hot - close to 490 degrees F - that they continue to cook and can combust if not doused with water.

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