Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

The Economic Impacts Of Various Public-Policy Scenarios For Methane Recovery On Dairy Farms, Richard Stowell, Chris G. Henry

Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Conference Presentations and White Papers

The feasibility of anaerobic digesters for dairy and swine operations in Nebraska was evaluated using EPA’s Ag Star software program Farmworks 2.0 (1997) and local values for farm energy costs, mainly electricity. Four incentive programs were considered that would subsidize anaerobic digestion. Installation of a digester system is a significant investment that is currently very difficult to justify economically to Nebraska producers based upon consideration of readily quantifiable income and expenses, regardless of farm size. Larger dairy operations looking to invest in this technology would benefit most from a tax credit and/or subsidized electricity sales, policies that relate directly to …