USDA plans this spring to follow up on an earlier Census of Agriculture survey that found that more than 20,000 farms and ranches were producing renewable solar, wind and methane energy. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the survey, which is being overseen by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, is the "first step in a comprehensive effort by NASS to collect and publish detailed data on the agriculture sector's production and use of renewable energy."
Separately, USDA and EPA yesterday announced a new interagency agreement to promote renewable energy generation by providing up to $3.9 million over the next five years to help farms overcome obstacles that prevent them from recovering and using biogas. According to a statement, 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."
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.
EPA estimates there are about 8,000 farms across the U.S. 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, roughly equal to the annual emissions from 6.5 million passenger vehicles. In addition, these projects could generate more than 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy, according to EPA.
.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
