Biogas or Bull****? - The Deceptive Promise of Manure Biogas

The Biden We present original research that provides new administration has committed to achieving a evidence of the trend for CAFOs with digesters 30% reduction in methane emissions as part to increase their herd sizes, and we make the of the Global Methane Pledge and has thrown case that methane reductions from manure its weight behind the voluntary adoption of digesters are overstated, insuffic. [...] Department of Agriculture, though the specific amount is unknown due to a lack of transparency from USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentive Program.80 The company contracted to construct the digester projected the total cost of the project at $12 million.81 A 2020 report to the California Energy Commission noted that the digester would not have been economically viable without federal and state gra. [...] The imbalance likely contributed to pressure build-ups that ultimately led to the facility’s rupture.108 Following the spill, DEQ was required by law to notify the public of the event but did not disclose any details, including the nature of the waste released.109 Ultimately, in July 2022, DEQ issued notice to White Oak Farms, finding the facility failed to update its permits to reflect COVID oper. [...] from pasture-based management producing the least methane to an uncovered anaerobic If the government rewards the production of lagoon producing the most methane.159 As the biogas with lucrative subsidies and incentives, California Department of Food and Agriculture CAFO operators and energy companies are has noted based on a 2015 review of field-based likely to produce more biogas. [...] In many cases, an operation will manage some of its manure using one practice and some of its manure with another practice, so to calculate total methane emissions for an operation, the MCF is multiplied by the percentage of waste managed using that practice, the volatile solids produced per animal per day, the number of animals, and the methane production capacity of the manure.