Climate Change Policy and the Adoption of Methane Digesters on Livestock Operations

Key, Nigel

ISBN 10: 1249313880 / ISBN 13: 9781249313885

Published by Bibliogov, 2012

About this Item

Print on Demand pp. 50.

Seller Inventory # 26385752290

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Climate Change Policy and the Adoption of Methane Digesters on Livestock Operations
• Publisher: Bibliogov
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1249313880
• ISBN 13: 9781249313885
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Methane digesters-biogas recovery systems that use methane from manure to generate electricity-have not been widely adopted in the United States because costs have exceeded benefits to operators. Burning methane in a digester reduces greenhouse gas emissions from manure management. A policy or program that pays producers for these emission reductions-through a carbon offset market or directly with payments-could increase the number of livestock producers who would profit from adopting a methane digester. We developed an economic model that illustrates how dairy and hog operation size, location, and manure management methods, along with electricity and carbon prices, could influence methane digester profits. The model shows that a relatively moderate increase in the price of carbon could induce significantly more dairy and hog operations, particularly large ones, to adopt a methane digester, thereby substantially lowering emissions of greenhouse gases.