How using microbes to mine human waste could help reduce reliance on fossil fuels

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/env.2021.0025
Biogas is being falsely marketed as a renewable energy solution to solve the problems of an already polluting industry, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (“CAFOs”). This greenwashing is problematic for many reasons and is in itself an environmental justice issue. The production of biomethane from manure-to-energy projects, such as manure digesters, is hazardous to local communities, locks farmers into more debt, and perpetuates the expansion of our current harmful agriculture practices, while increasing fossil fuel infrastructure by entrenching CAFOs with pipelines for the gas that is produced. In this article, we breakdown why biogas is not sustainable, how manure-to-energy projects perpetuate environmental injustices, examine current state policies on manure-to-energy projects, and how policy can be improved to protect frontline communities and farmers.
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It is hard to imagine that trying to re-greenwash this industry as a solution to human waste will be meaningful in any way.
 

In the 1990s, I did a short contract, servicing the Pump Motors,
at one of London's larger sewage works, this place was unique
and very interesting to me, they had their own power station and
they were totally "Off Grid", I ended up servicing alternators that
were not running at the time, this place, was running diesel engine
driven alternators, producing 11,000 volts AC, the motors were 50%
Diesel and 50% Methane mixed, the operator was striving for a mix
of 25% diesel and 75% methane, I don't know if they ever reached
that goal, because I moved on, but it is still operating and it looks
like it is, still, off grid.

Mike.
 
jujube said:
"Hey, Paw, the flame is gettin' low. Go out to the outhouse and fetch another log to throw on th' fire."
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Reminds of when my brother was 9 and I was 7 and we decided to camp overnight out in the cow pasture. He told me to help him gather cow-patties because they'd make a great campfire.

After a bit of effort, there we stood, admiring our campfire, all proud of ourselves....until we looked over at our bag of marshmallows. :oops:
 
Murrmurr said:
Reminds of when my brother was 9 and I was 7 and we decided to camp overnight out in the cow pasture. He told me to help him gather cow-patties because they'd make a great campfire.

After a bit of effort, there we stood, admiring our campfire, all proud of ourselves....until we looked over at our bag of marshmallows. :oops:
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The settlers/wagon train folks/plains people swore by cooking over "buffalo chips". They said it added flavor to the food. I'll pass.
 

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