Governor Hochul: Support Clean Fuel Standard
As a dairy farmer in New York, three things are always top of mind: animal welfare, product quality, and environmental stewardship. When opportunities arise for innovation and growth in these areas, farmers are the first to take them.
That’s why my family farm, Mapleview Dairy, recently installed anaerobic digesters. An anaerobic digester takes a waste product, like manure, and turns it into biomethane. This biomethane can then be used to heat homes, create electricity, or fuel our vehicles. And, in addition to producing clean energy, digesters can process food scraps, keeping food waste from going into landfills. As such, the state must take steps to support a community-oriented approach to the use of digesters so that farmers and the community can benefit from the ability to produce energy from food and organic waste.
One of the most efficient ways we could use biomethane is by fueling New York’s transportation sector and creating a Clean Fuel Standard in New York State. New York’s transportation sector is the leading source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the state, contributing over 34 percent of the state’s annual GHG emissions. By changing the way we fuel our fleet, we could dramatically reduce this number, taking better care of our environment. According to Cornell, biomethane from our state’s dairy farms and food waste could replace at least 300 million gallons of diesel fuel every year, which is enough to power more than 30,000 tractor trailers.
Implementing a Clean Fuel Standard benefits farms, communities, and the state as a whole. Our farms would receive another revenue stream by selling biomethane, which in turn reduces their greenhouse gas emissions and farm odors. A Clean Fuel Standard incentivizes farmers to invest in technology while fairly compensating them for their contributions to environmental sustainability.
According to a report cited by the Clean Fuels New York Coalition as part of their public comments on the Climate Act Draft Scoping Plan, a Clean Fuel Standard could help create 9,200 jobs and reduce carbon emissions by 13-20 million metric tons annually.
The economic benefits of a Clean Fuel Standard extend beyond an extra revenue source for farmers. The report mentioned above estimates that those 9,200 jobs would be worth $2.6 billion in wage income for state residents, and the reduction of carbon emissions would equate to $6.6 billion to $10 billion in annual economic benefits.
A Clean Fuel Standard would also strengthen our energy independence. By creating our own stream of energy in New York, we would be less reliant on high-carbon fuels and imported energy. This kind of innovation can help us reach the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
Farmers are already doing their part. We’re investing in technology, improving water quality, and supporting healthy soils. But we cannot continue expanding these efforts without fair compensation for the environmental benefits we’re delivering.
Farmers are part of the climate solution. We are the caretakers of the land and the original environmentalists. With a Clean Fuel Standard, New York can support that legacy while building a cleaner, more resilient future for everyone. I urge Governor Hochul to support Clean Fuel Standard legislation and include it in her executive budget proposal.
David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau President
*sponsored content*
