Reply #15: There are ~100,000 dairy farms in the US

[jpak]

that could support biogas plants.

Using EPC's technology, the nation's dairy farms *alone* could provide power to ~6.75 million US homes (equivalent to ~7 nuclear power plants).

There are ~60 million hogs in the US, most of them (>75%) at large (5000+ hog) factory farms. Anaerobic digestion of hog manure could provide power to another ~7.5 million US homes (equivalent to another ~7 nuclear power plants).

This doesn't include the potential power from cattle feedlot or slaughterhouse wastes...

Anaeobic digestion of the sewage generated by 281 million Americans could generate power for more than 4 million US homes (equivalent to 4 nuclear power plants).

Distributed biogas generator systems could also be used to provide co-generated domestic/process heat and/or hot water as well.

Anaerobic digestion of livestock waste and domestic sewage would solve several environmental problems.

Most municipal sewage treatment plants employ aerobic digestion of raw sewage. These processes produce enormous quantities of sludge that must disposed of (usually by distribution on agricultural/grazing lands), and consume substantial quantities of electricity (for aeration pumps). As anaerobic digesters yield ~10 times less bio-solids than aerobic treatment plants, these systems would significantly reduce the amount of treated sludge towns and cities would have (to pay) to dispose of...

..and they would generate electricity to run these sewage treatment plants and provide power to the grid. The savings to local communities would be substantial.

Large livestock operations produce enormous quantities of manure, most of which is temporally held in retention ponds. As these ponds are partially anaerobic, they emit methane to the atmosphere. These ponds also produce serious odor problems. Anaerobic digestion of manure slurries coupled with secondary aerobic treatment would eliminate methane and odor emissions. In addition, anaerobic digestion would significantly reduce the quantity of bio-solids produced and still provide fertilizer for local farm operations....

...and generate electricity for use on the farm or sale to the grid.

Nuclear power could not solve any of these problems.

One also forgets that nuclear power plants use enormous quantities of water, and that nuclear plant cooling towers employ hypochlorite (i.e., Chlorox) or the banned antifoulant TBT. They alter the chemical and thermal environment of local waters. They are neither "water wise" nor "water friendly".

Nuclear power plants also produce very expensive waste.

The current price tag for Yucca Mountain is $60 billion and climbing.

Nuclear utilities are currently suing the DOE (taxpayers) for an additional $56 billion as the DOE has not disposed of the spent fuel that they produced and they made a profit with...

The total bill for spent fuel disposal is currently ~$100 billion and rising. As the Nuclear Waste Fund is expected to provide only ~$30 billion to this kitty, taxpayers will be liable for ~$70+ billion.

What a scam it is...