We have to first assume that global warming, or climate change, or whatever it’s called this week, is caused by us. That is a big assumption, one that Dear Leader Barack Hussein Obama embraces. Plus, as reinforcement, we have this Fact Sheet from Obama about methane gas as a contributor to global warming, I mean climate change, uh, I mean … :
… last June, President Obama issued a broad-based Climate Action Plan, announcing a series of executive actions to reduce carbon pollution, prepare the U.S. for the impacts of climate change, and lead international efforts to address global climate change.
We are now ready for the EPA’s latest effort to waste our tax dollars. The EPA is calling for regulation of methane caused by COWS! No kidding! “Cows emit a massive amount of methane through belching, with a lesser amount through flatulence.”
First, the Fact Sheet says:
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced seven new “climate hubs” to help farmers and ranchers adapt their operations to a changing climate and the President’s Budget proposed a $1 billion in new funding for new technologies and incentives to build smarter, more resilient infrastructure to help communities prepare for a changing climate.
In June, in partnership with the dairy industry, the USDA, EPA and DOE will jointly release a “Biogas Roadmap” outlining voluntary strategies to accelerate adoption of methane digesters and other cost-effective technologies to reduce U.S. dairy sector greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020.
Sounds innocuous enough, the EPA is seeking ways to curb methane imissions, looking out for us. But (and there’s always a ‘but’ when Obama is involved), the latest EPA efforts suggest otherwise.
Second, we get a study by the EPA, stating (Table 6-1, page 6-1) that methane (CH4) levels have increased by 13.6% (in Tg CO2 Eq. units – whatever that is) between 1990 and 2012. Never mind that emission is down by 2.3% between 2010 and 2012, and we don’t know what happened in 2013.
The study says that:
Methane is produced as part of normal digestive processes in animals. During digestion, microbes resident in an animal’s digestive system ferment food consumed by the animal. This microbial fermentation process, referred to as enteric fermentation, produces CH4 as a byproduct, which can be exhaled or eructated [belched] by the animal. The amount of CH4 produced and emitted by an individual animal depends primarily upon the animal’s digestive system, and the amount and type of feed it consumes.
The study says that ruminant animals, such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels, are the major emitters of CH4 because of their unique digestive system. Seventy one percent of methane came, in 2012, from beef cattle, 25% from dairy cattle, and 4% from the rest of the animals. So, according to Obama’s fact sheet, the EPA is going to go after the lesser source of methane – dairy cattle, while ignoring beef cattle. WOW! I can now sleep easier knowing tha the EPA is protecting me – said very sarcastically.
Did you notice that the report says that increases in methane output depend upon the amount and type of food consumed? That little phrase will, IMHO, become the open door through the EPA will rush and issue feed quality and quantity reguations. The result: higher prices.
And did you notice that the fact sheet says that $1 billion “for new technologies and incentives to build smarter, more resilient infrastructure to help communities prepare for a changing climate.” Hmmm, sounds familiar. Oh, yeah, electricity technology. I’ll bet that a vast portion of that money will go to Obama’s donors and cronies. When (not if) history repeats itself, no new technology will be developed. But the money will be spent, and we taxpayers will again foot the bill. Can anyone say “Green Energy?” What a fiasco that was/is.
From the same Fact Sheet we get this:
Reducing methane emissions is a powerful way to take action on climate change; and putting methane to use can support local economies with a source of clean energy that generates revenue, spurs investment and jobs, improves safety, and leads to cleaner air. When fully implemented, the policies in the methane strategy will improve public health and safety while recovering otherwise wasted energy to power our communities, farms, factories, and power plants.
I can just visualize the high-tech cow of the future as methane gas they emit will be captured. And WE will pay for the new technology via our tax dollars and higher prices for all things dairy and beef.
But that’s just my opinion.
Cross-posted at The Pot Stirrer, my very conservative web site!