Cows & Natural Gases

by Ridge Shinn

Two recent articles have come to my attention about the bad rap that cows have received regarding the methane they produce. In an article at IndyWeek.com, reporter Suzanne Nelson writes, "The methane cows exude has been blamed as a more potent contributor to global climate change than carbon dioxide, the primary byproduct of burning fossil fuels. ... But are cows really worse for the atmosphere than cars and all of the other implements of a global industrial economy? The answer, while complicated, appears to be no."

Finally, someone is talking sense about methane generation by bovines.

In a second report, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, "Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will unveil its latest renewable energy project today, a system that collects methane from manure on a Fresno County dairy farm and refines it into biogas, virtually identical to natural gas. The biogas then flows into a PG&E natural gas pipeline for use in homes and power plants. ... PG&E estimates that biogas could one day supply 5 percent of all the natural gas the utility needs."

Here are links to both articles:
IndyWeek.Com
San Francisco Chronicle