Anaerobic digester projects in eight states - including Pennsylvania - will be funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The federal entity said that it was pursuing the projects to cut down on farm-based pollution, spark renewable energy production and to lower energy costs. Anaerobic digesters are bacteria that break down manure in environments that are oxygen free, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The initiative will be funded by the USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which has already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 14.5 million metric tons and helped to significantly reduce electricity consumption.
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said that the efforts will help small farmers move forward with new revenue streams.
"Since its creation this program has assisted almost 9,600 small businesses, farmers and ranchers and created or saved an estimated 15,000 jobs," he said in a statement. "It also provides producers with new opportunities to diversify revenue and make American agriculture and rural small business more competitive."
According to FarmAndDairy.com, three anaerobic digester projects will be funded in Pennsylvania.
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