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Earth Focus

Dairy Alternatives: Converting Cattle Methane Into Renewable Energy

Airoso Dairy is a family-run farm in Central California producing much of the milk found in butter and mozzarella cheese produced locally. With about 2,900 cows, this and every other dairy in California are facing a mandate to mitigate their large contribution to the methane emissions in the state’s atmosphere. Experts say the methane found in cow manure is equivalent to the amount produced by a gas-powered vehicle. Airoso is adopting innovation to reduce its carbon footprint while remaining economically viable — in fact, the digester converting manure into biofuel has added an entirely new revenue stream for the farm.

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