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U.S. farms double biogas capture in 5 years, new report finds

A new report by the American Biogas Council shows the number of U.S. farms capturing biogas has more than doubled the past five years.

Patrick Serfass is executive director of the council and says the data indicates farmers are seeking additional revenue opportunities that are also sustainable.

“And maybe even displace some of their fertilizer and fossil fuel costs. Maybe even displace some of their heating costs for keeping barns warm for their animals.”

Biogas is a source of energy created by recycling organic waste like manure and food scraps.

He tells Brownfield over 630 farms now operate biogas capture systems.

“More and more farmers are realizing ‘well this makes a lot of sense for me.’ So it’s really been spreading in part by policy and in part by word of mouth throughout the agriculture industry because it provides so many benefits to farmers.”

Serfass says dairy farms account for the majority of farm-based biogas capture systems at nearly 80 percent, followed by hog farms.

More than a quarter are located in California, followed by Wisconsin at nine percent.