Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Chemicals and Toxics
    • Climate Change
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Environmental Justice
    • Greener Living
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Pesticides
    • Radon
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Guidance
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • EPA Administrator
    • Organization Chart
    • Staff Directory
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Jobs and Internships
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Lab and Research Centers
AgSTAR
Contact Us

AgSTAR Accomplishments

“AgSTAR is a tremendous resource to the Nebraska Methane Workgroup. The program serves as a valuable conduit of information to connect states facing similar issues, and this has been particularly helpful.”

Since its inception in 1994, AgSTAR has made meaningful progress reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the agriculture sector. Through outreach, education, training and other tools, AgSTAR continues to support anaerobic digestion of livestock waste.

Anaerobic digestion of livestock waste reduces GHG emissions in two ways:

  • Methane emissions are directly reduced as biogas is captured and used as a renewable fuel.
  • The energy generated displaces the use of fossil fuels, further avoiding the emission of GHGs and other pollutants.
2020 AgSTAR GHG Emission Reductions
Carbon Dioxide Equivalent
2.11 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e)

is equivalent to

Energy use of homes
254,093 homes' energy use for one year

EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator provides other GHG equivalencies.

Recent AgSTAR Accomplishments

  • Approximately 317 anaerobic digesters are operating at commercial livestock farms in the United States. To find out more about these projects, explore the Livestock Anaerobic Digester Database.
  • In 2020, Anaerobic Digester Projects accounted for in AgSTAR’s Livestock Anaerobic Digester Database reduced 5.27 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MMTCO2e).
    • 4.44 MMTCO2e direct methane reductions
    • 0.83 MMTCO2e emissions avoided
  • Programmatically, AgSTAR sets goals to reduce methane emissions through the increased adoption of anaerobic manure management. In 2020, the AgSTAR program helped reduce GHG emissions by 2.11 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MMTCO2e):
    • 1.77 MMTCO2e direct emission reductions
    • 0.33 MMTCO2e emissions avoided

Greenhouse Gas Reductions Due to AgSTAR Programs

The chart below shows the amount of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emission reductions attributed to the AgSTAR program’s education and outreach efforts to assist in the development of manure-based anaerobic digestion systems from 2000 through September 2021. The chart shows a steady increase in emissions reductions through 2013 and from 2017 on. Projected emissions reductions in 2021 total 2.38 MMTCO2e.

 

Year Direct Reductions (MMTCO2e) Indirect Reductions (MMTCO2e)
2021 2.03 0.35
2020 1.77 0.33
2019 1.54 0.31
2018 1.35 0.30
2017 1.23 0.30
2016 1.20 0.31
2015 1.17 0.32
2014 1.24 0.32
2013 1.21 0.30
2012 0.97 0.25
2011 0.80 0.19
2010 0.66 0.15
2009 0.59 0.13
2008 0.54 0.11
2007 0.37 0.07
2006 0.34 0.05
2005 0.24 0.03
2004 0.18 0.03
2003 0.13 0.02
2002 0.11 0.02
2001 0.09 0.01
2000 0.04 0.01

In addition to these environmental benefits, AgSTAR has:

  • Organized education and outreach events, including a national conference
  • Developed technical resources for farmers, vendors and other stakeholders
  • Launched the AgSTAR Partners Program which includes state and non-governmental stakeholders
  • AgSTAR Home
  • About AgSTAR
    • Accomplishments
    • Celebrating 20 Years of Anaerobic Digestion
  • Events
  • Learn About Biogas Recovery
  • Planning AD Projects
  • Building & Operating Biogas Recovery Systems
  • Biogas Toolkit
  • Success Stories
  • Projects & Opportunities
  • AgSTAR Partners
  • Frequent Questions about Livestock Biogas Projects
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on November 1, 2021
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data.gov
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Open Government
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions

Follow.