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American Biogas Council applauds biogas funding

April 12, 2012, Washington, DC – The American Biogas Council (ABC) is pleased with the recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help finance a biogas project in the Midwest.

The $5 million in funding – announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack – will be used to support the construction of a new biogas system at a cattle farm in Oakley, KS.

The completed project will replace almost 90 percent of the fossil fuels currently used by the farm, and is expected to create 15 full-time positions and almost 100 additional construction opportunities.

In announcing the grant, Secretary Vilsack underscored the role biogas plays in meeting renewable electricity and gas needs. Biogas systems produce a continuous stream of methane-rich gas that can be used for base load renewable electricity and as a renewable substitute for natural gas.

“The biogas market is essentially untapped in the U.S., which presents a huge opportunity for American businesses to turn garbage into green energy using a contained, natural, biological process,” said Patrick Serfass, executive director of the American Biogas Council.

The American Biogas Council has identified 2,200 operational biogas projects and more than 12,000 potential sites yet to be developed in the wastewater (3,300), agriculture (8,200), landfill (500) and industrial and commercial sectors. Biogas could replace 10 percent of America’s electricity needs with renewable, 24-7 power.

“We thank President Obama, his administration and especially Secretary Vilsack for recognizing the valuable opportunity we have to build our economy by building systems that turn organic waste into versatile, reliable renewable energy,” said Paul Greene, chairman of the board for the American Biogas Council. “This announcement has been a key ingredient in the recipe we’re using to accelerate the U.S. biogas industry. The project exemplifies the combination of factors needed: public awareness, willing investors, community support and an open mind to approaches for waste management.”