Member press release – American Biogas Council Applauds Reintroduction of the Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act
June 18, 2021 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmen Ron Kind (D-WI-03) and Tom Reed (R-NY-23) have reintroduced the Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act demonstrating their continued support for the on-farm economy and the deployment of technologies that promote sustainable agriculture. The Act, which provides a 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC) for qualifying biogas and nutrient recovery systems, will increase agricultural viability by helping to deploy new nutrient recovery and biogas systems which recycle organic material into renewable energy and healthy soil products.
“At a time when we need to strengthen US agriculture, promote more sustainable practices and make healthier soils, the Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act is exactly what we need,” said Patrick Serfass, Executive Director of the American Biogas Council (ABC). “The ABC is very grateful for the continued support of Congressmen Kind and Reed. We believe this bill will encourage greater investment in biogas systems and nutrient recovery technologies which will create new jobs, promote sustainable farm practices, and provide additional revenue streams for farmers.”
The introduction of the Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act reflects the critical need to support economically and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices that protect waterways and enrich soils. No tax incentive exists to incentivize biogas systems that produce renewable natural gas or any nutrient recovery systems. This new investment tax credit would promote the development of biogas systems that turn their biogas into pipeline-quality, renewable natural gas for sale to gas customers who want to lower their carbon footprint, fleet owners who want renewable fuel and for renewable heat. The tax credit would also promote the use of nutrient capture technologies which can remove certain nutrients in a watershed that has too much phosphorus or nitrogen, to create a product that can be sold in a watershed that needs that nutrient for soil health and to boost crop yields.
Media Contact:
Maureen Walsh
202.681.6092
maureen@dc-groupllc.com
About the American Biogas Council
The American Biogas Council is the only national trade association representing the entire U.S. biogas industry. We represent over 270 companies and more than 3,000 professionals throughout the biogas supply chain that are dedicated to maximizing the production and use of biogas from organic waste. Biogas systems protect our air, water and soil by recycling organic material, like food waste and manure, into renewable energy and soil products. Learn more online at www.AmericanBiogasCouncil.org, Twitter @ambiogascouncil,and LinkedIn.
