{
  "id": "R40667",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "R40667",
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  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
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      "id": 394759,
      "date": "2011-12-09",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T00:25:35.400134",
      "title": "Anaerobic Digestion: Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction and Energy Generation",
      "summary": "Anaerobic digestion technology may help to address two congressional concerns that have some measure of interdependence: development of clean energy sources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Anaerobic digestion technology breaks down a feedstock\u2014usually manure from livestock operations\u2014to produce a variety of outputs including methane. An anaerobic digestion system may reduce greenhouse gas emissions because it captures the methane from manure that might otherwise be released into the atmosphere as a potent greenhouse gas. The technology may contribute to the development of clean energy because the captured methane can be used as an energy source to produce heat or generate electricity.\nAnaerobic digestion technology has been implemented sparingly, with more than 160 anaerobic digestion systems operating on farms nationwide. Some barriers to adoption include high capital costs, questions about reliability, and varying payment rates for the electricity generated by anaerobic digestion systems. Two sources of federal financial assistance that may make the technology more attractive are the Section 9007 Rural Energy for America Program of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 farm bill, P.L. 110-246), and the Renewable Electricity Production Tax Credit (26 U.S.C. \u00a745). \nCongress could decide to encourage development and use of the technology by (1) identifying the primary technology benefit, so as to determine whether it should be pursued in the framework of greenhouse gas emission reduction or clean energy development; (2) determining if the captured methane will count as a carbon offset; and (3) considering additional financing options for the technology.\nThis report provides information on anaerobic digestion systems, technology adoption, challenges to widespread implementation, and policy interventions that could affect adoption of the technology.",
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    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc810037/",
      "id": "R40667_2010May04",
      "date": "2010-05-04",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Anaerobic Digestion: Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction and Energy Generation",
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      "type": "CRS Report",
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc808694/",
      "id": "R40667_2010Jan04",
      "date": "2010-01-04",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Anaerobic Digestion: Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction and Energy Generation",
      "summary": null,
      "type": "CRS Report",
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      "topics": []
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  "topics": [
    "Economic Policy",
    "Energy Policy"
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}