2025: Understanding Biogas Utilization Pathways and State-Level Policies from US Dairy Digesters (Multi-NGO)
Dairy manure digesters capture methane from manure that would otherwise have been emitted in the form of biogas. This biogas can be used to generate electricity on the farm, it can be upgraded to renewable natural gas (which can be sold for commercial use off-farm), or it can be flared. The emission-saving potential of digesters depends on how the biogas is used and on the surrounding infrastructure for processing and transport of biogas end products, fugitive emissions, and new co-pollutants. To enable maximum emissions reductions and clarity among diverse policies, researchers will create an inventory of federal and state-level policies for anaerobic digesters, and a map of potential locations for future digesters, taking into account different biogas utilization pathways.
This project is part of a dairy sustainability research program jointly managed by Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, The Nature Conservancy, Clean Air Task Force, and Environmental Defense Fund.
Cornell: Wendong Zhang (SC Johnson, Dyson); Christopher Wolf (SC Johnson, Dyson); Lauren Ray (CALS, Animal Science)
NGO Partners: Akin Olumoroti (EDF); Partha Ray (TNC); Alisha Staggs (TNC)