Methane to Markets

Resource,  Aug 2007  by Meyers, Robert J

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International partnership fuels market for cleaner energy

The world is getting smarter about clean energy and how it can contribute to climate-change solutions. With the help of the Bush administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, countries around the world are joining efforts with companies and other organizations to use methane as a cleaner source of energy. It's good for the environment. And it's good for business - not just here, but around the world.

The Methane to Markets Partnership brings together the market expertise, financing, and technology necessary for developing cost-effective methane recovery and use projects at landfills, coal mines, oil and gas systems, and agricultural operations. Partner countries are working in collaboration with the private sector, multilateral development banks, and other governmental and non-governmental organizations to make environmental and economic progress with respect to these projects. More than 550 public and private sector partners and 20 countries have joined Methane to Markets since the program's launch in November 2004.

Later this year, the Partnership will highlight its efforts at the first Methane to Markets Partnership Expo, to be held in Beijing, Oct. 30-Nov. 1. This event will be a forum for participants to share information and join forces on project development, technology deployment, financing, and policy. Co-sponsored by the U.S. EPA and China's National Development and Reform Commission, the Expo promises to be the premier international forum for promoting methane recovery and use project opportunities and technologies.

We are already seeing results from this partnership. For example, in the livestock industry methane emissions from livestock waste management systems can be captured and used as a cleaner source of energy, yielding significant environmental, human health, and financial benefits for farm owners. With assistance from the EPA and other federal partners, the U.S. geo-membrane industry and affiliated fabricators have been installing geo-membrane tops on appropriately designed waste lagoons in Mexico's swine industry to recover methane gas for use. The thousands of potential projects around the world make mis a significant market opportunity for the private sector that will deliver important global economic and environmental benefits.

By 2015, Methane to Markets has the potential to reduce annual methane emissions by up to 50 million metric tons of carbon equivalent - roughly equal to the greenhouse gas emissions from 50 500-megawatt coalfired power plants in one year.

President Bush and the EPA are committed to being a good global neighbor by exporting America's environmental successes to our international partners. Methane to Markets is precisely the kind of global public-private partnership that is required to address the challenges of both cleaner energy development and responding to climate change.

For more information, ASABE members are invited to visit www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets.

Robert J. Meyers is Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. USA 20460, meyers.robert@epa.gov.

Copyright American Society of Agricultural Engineers Aug 2007
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