New polling finds residents view these renewable energy facilities as positive contributors to their communities, particularly for waste management, water quality, and support for farmers.
WASHINGTON – JUNE 25, 2026 – Americans broadly support recycling waste using biogas capture systems, and those who live nearest to biogas facilities are their strongest backers, according to a new national survey commissioned by the American Biogas Council (ABC) and conducted by Candid Counsel.
The new data builds on polling conducted last year which showed that 77% of American voters support expanding the capture of U.S. biogas, and almost three in four voters (74%) support increasing government investment in it. Respondents cited waste reduction and energy production as the top reasons for their support, and 65% said political leaders are providing too little support to farming and agriculture, a sector that would directly benefit from biogas systems.
The latest survey drilled down to the community level, asking voters living within two miles of biogas systems across 144 communities nationwide how they felt about the biogas facility in their area. It found that residents view these facilities as positive, low-profile community infrastructure that contributes to waste management, renewable energy production, water quality protection, and local agriculture.
Among residents already familiar with their local biogas system, positive views outnumbered negative views by more than four to one — 50% describing the facility’s impact as positive and just 12% as negative, a net positive margin of 38 points.
“These findings show that biogas systems are good neighbors,” said ABC Executive Director Patrick Serfass. “People who are familiar with them tend to see them as assets that help manage waste, produce renewable energy, and support local communities.”
Among residents who learned about their community’s biogas system during the survey, positive impressions exceeded negative impressions by more than six to one, 31% to 5%. The researchers found that digesters are simply not a major focus of day-to-day life for residents who live near them.
The research also identified what residents feel is most beneficial about digesters. These benefits include:
- Turning waste into renewable energy
- Helping protect waterways by reducing nutrient runoff
- Supporting farmers and agricultural communities
- Create local jobs and economic activity.
The May 2025 national poll was conducted by Candid Counsel among more than 1,000 registered voters and weighted to be representative of the U.S. voter population by gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, region, and party identification. This year’s poll was conducted among voters living within two miles of digesters across 144 communities in the United States. The margin of error for the community survey is plus or minus 4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
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About the American Biogas Council
The American Biogas Council is the voice of the U.S. biogas industry, representing all companies working to recycle organic waste into clean, locally made energy and fertilizer. Biogas capture systems recycle waste, food scraps, manure, and wastewater, keeping communities safe and clean, and supporting local economies. The ABC’s mission is to maximize the economic and environmental benefits of biogas while advancing sustainable solutions for energy, agriculture, and waste management. Learn more at americanbiogascouncil.org, on X @ambiogascouncil, Facebook, and LinkedIn.