Enviros Voice Concern Over Manure Digesters

Environmental activist groups delivered a petition to EPA Wednesday asking the agency to end its support for manure digesters. These anaerobic digesters turn livestock waste into biogas which is used as an energy source. Friends of the Earth Animal Agriculture Program Manager Molly Armus opposes any climate policy that promotes the use of methane digesters. “It’s a concern about incentivizing larger herd sizes primarily because these operations receive large incentives to produce this biogas.” Armus wants federal dollars to be invested in more effective climate solutions. The Red River Farm Network asked Armus what that meant. “I think investing in truly renewable energy, like putting more money towards things like solar panels at farms versus adding a digestor or a new manure lagoon which exacerbates environmental concerns.”