Gretchen Persbacker’s defense of renewable natural gas (“Renewable natural gas a valuable resource,” Feb. 9) is so judiciously worded that it took me a second reading to realize that she was arguing for something that we can all agree on.
Because I am wary of false claims that natural gas is clean energy, I was dubious about Persbacker’s argument until I realized that the term “renewable natural gas” refers to the methane emitted by natural processes occurring right now in the air over breweries, dairy farms, waste water and landfills. New York state should be considering this potential wealth pouring into the sky. Other states are. Maine, for instance, is partnering with its dairy farmers to develop renewable natural gas through the use of anaerobic digesters and New Hampshire is getting a percentage of its gas by harnessing methane from landfills. [Times-Union]