Perverting science for politics

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Many? Really? The few cases I've heard of, in the last few years, seem to herald it as the latest, unique, cutting edge.

Bruce, you have a good point. I should not have made that statement without numbers to back up "many." I'm searching for data.

Edit:

I just called NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority), who are just in the process of completing a survey of waste water treatment in that state. In NY, about 140 treatment plants use anaerobic digestion to treat waste and about 10% of those are generating electricity from the gas produced. I'm awaiting a call back so I can find out how much electricity is being produced and what the others are doing with the AD gas. I'm also trying to find a national source, so I don't have to call every state's energy department.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by HungLikeJesus

snip~ I'm searching for data. ~snip

Thanks for the edit info, very interesting. I know they are doing this on some large farms in Vermont, with seed money from the state.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Thanks for the edit info, very interesting. I know they are doing this on some large farms in Vermont, with seed money from the state.

I just talked to someone from NYSERDA and she's going to send me results of a study that they've just completed, but have not yet published. That will cover NY only, so she recommended that I look on the EPA website for national data. Here's a small part of what I found on that site:

How Is CHP Being Used at U.S. WWTFs? As of September 2007, wastewater treatment CHP systems were in place at 79 sites in 24 states, representing 223 MW of electric capacity. Of the existing CHP systems in the wastewater treatment sector, the majority use reciprocating engines. The mix of technologies used for CHP also includes microturbines, fuel cells, and turbine installations.

If the NYSERDA report contains anything interesting, I'll post it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Cool, that's encouraging. Thanks.