Wisconsin Ag Connection - Bill Would Lower Cost of Alternative Energy Options for Farmers

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Bill Would Lower Cost of Alternative Energy Options for Farmers
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 06/20/2016

Wisconsin Congressman Ron Kind has introduced legislation that would provide tax incentives for farmers and rural electric cooperatives to invest in biogas technology.

The La Crosse Democrat says the 'Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act' helps find ways to help farmers reduce their costs and continue to grow.

"One commonsense step is to provide tax incentives for farmers to reduce their energy costs and waste by pursuing biogas technology," Kind said.

Specifically, the bill promotes investment by allowing biogas technology to qualify for an energy tax credit that is on-par with the 30-percent tax credit for solar energy. The measure is geared toward properties that use anaerobic digesters or other biological, chemical, thermal, or mechanical processes to make biogas that is at least 52-percent methane as well as nutrient recovery systems which make digesters run more efficiently and reduce harmful waste runoff.

National Milk Producers CEO Michael Doyle said his group is backing the proposal, saying it is important to offer affordable environmental nutrient management solutions.

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