Encourage the Use of Biogenic Waste Sources for Energy Generation (AFW Action 2.4)

Create incentives for the development of facilities and processes that utilize biogenic waste streams as energy sources to reduce New Hampshire's reliance on fossil fuels. These wastes, which may be generated in municipal, residential, agricultural, institutional, or industrial settings, can provide heat, power, and fuel through any number of applications. Examples include anaerobic digesters, microbial fuel cells, and direct conversion of organic wastes to fuel. Among the possible energy sources are sludge, septage, municipal and industrial wastewater, brown grease, residential and institutional food waste, leaf and yard waste, and manure. Development incentives could be provided by means of 1) a loan program to assist livestock and industrial operations, and 2) modification of existing municipal funding mechanisms to cover the higher initial costs of these projects, to be offset by long-term reductions in operating costs and fossil fuel consumption.