Biogas: Pro-Economy and Pro-Climate: Growth in All Shades of Green
Channel: eesionline
Date: 23/05/2019

Learn more at: https://www.eesi.org/briefings/view/052219biogas

The American Biogas Council (ABC) and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about the many benefits of renewable biogas. Speakers:

    Bernie Sheff
    Chairman, American Biogas Council; Vice President of Engineering, Montrose Environmental Group
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Bernie_Sheff_052219.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/8laTkhw1kyg?t=4m17s

    Clarke Pauley
    Vice President, Organics & Bioenergy Division, CR&R Environmental Services
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Clarke_Pauley_052219.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/8laTkhw1kyg?t=14m53s

    Charles Love
    Renewable Energy Acquisition, Love's Travel Stops
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Charles_Love_052219.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/8laTkhw1kyg?t=27m14s

    Olga Brizhan
    Executive Director, GESS International, Inc.
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Olga_Brizhan_052219.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/8laTkhw1kyg?t=37m30s

    Patrick Serfass
    Executive Director, American Biogas Council
    Download Slides: https://www.eesi.org/files/Patrick_Serfass_052219.pdf
    Skip to presentation: https://youtu.be/8laTkhw1kyg?t=49m23s

    Question & Answer Session
    https://youtu.be/8laTkhw1kyg?t=1h01m16s

Biogas is produced from the decomposition of organic wastes (such as agriculture residues, manure, food wastes, and sewage) in the absence of oxygen. It can be refined into renewable natural gas, and used to power vehicles, heat homes, cook, or generate electricity—just like natural gas. Biogas is a powerful driver for economic growth, particularly in rural areas in need of economic opportunities. Biogas also lowers our greenhouse gas emissions, contributes to clean air and water, and improves soil health. It turns waste, which would be a problem if not used, into valuable resources.

Briefing attendees learned about the potential biogas resources in their states, the economic and job opportunities they offer, and important policy drivers for this promising industry.

More than 140,000 Americans work in bioenergy, which includes biogas. There are more than 2,200 sites producing biogas in all 50 states, and the potential is much greater: 13,500 additional dairy/swine farms, wastewater treatment plants, and landfill gas projects could be converted into biogas production facilities. Doing so would generate enough energy to power 7.5 million homes, reduce carbon emissions (as if 15.4 million cars were taken off the road), and create about 335,000 temporary construction jobs and 23,000 full-time operational positions. Our foreign competitors have taken the lead. In China, where biogas alone supports 209,000 workers, electricity generated from waste-to-energy has risen 300 percent in a decade, up to 4,100 MW. Europe has more than 10,000 operating digesters, which have helped make many of its communities fossil fuel free.

Biogas also has considerable environmental benefits. The United States produces more than 70 million tons of organic wastes per year, which threaten our air and water quality as well as public health. Biogas facilities can turn these wastes into resources, creating local jobs, improving air and water quality, and helping meet the policy goals espoused in both the Farm Bill and Renewable Fuel Standard.