May 5, 2010

US announces new gas emissions reduction agreement

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and USDA have announced a new interagency agreement promoting renewable energy generation and slashing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock operations.

EPA and USDA's enhanced collaboration will provide up to US$3.9 million over the next five years to help the farms overcome obstacles preventing them from recovering and using biogas. The collaboration will expand technical assistance efforts, improve technical standards and guidance for the construction and evaluation of biogas recovery systems, and expand outreach to livestock producers and assist them with pre-feasibility studies.

The agreement expands the work of the AgStar programme, a joint EPA-USDA effort that helps livestock producers reduce methane emissions from their operations.

Biogas is composed primarily of methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Biogas emitted from manure management systems called digesters can be collected and used to produce electricity, heat or hot water.

In addition, EPA estimates there are about 8,000 farms across the US that are good candidates for capturing and using biogas. If all 8,000 farms implemented biogas systems, methane emissions would be reduced by more than 34 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year.