Background

•Fossil Fuel extraction is one of the biggest wasters of water •For gas wells, the waste water (barrels: cubic feet) was 260: 1 million cubic feet. •In 2007, the daily output of the U.S. gas industry was 66 billion ft3 : 58 million barrels of waste water

Problem Statement

Methodology

Proposal A major issue that faces the world’s clean water is

the chemical runoff and waste water from hydraulic

fracturing. An economical and ecological solution

would be to use biogas to replace our energy needs

facilitated by natural gas extracted through

hydrofracturing.

Our solution entails taking a holistic approach but

places particular emphasis on the use of biogas as

an alternative for natural gas acquired through

hydrofracking

Mechanism for Implementation

Survey Results

42% don’t know about biogas Only 1% don’t know

about natural gas

Assessment Plans Summary

Fossil Fuels will continue to dominant energy market seeing as they

receive more subsidies and tax breaks. Biogas could be the next big

energy source if awareness is raised and people are educated about the

benefits. Our plan of biogas from waste water has already been

implemented around the country.

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Committee on Economic and Environmental Impacts of Increasing Biofuels Production National Research Council. (2011) Renewable Fuel Standard: Potential Economic and Environmental Effects of U. S. Biofuel Policy: The Economics

and Economic Effects of Biofuel Production. Washington, DC, USA: National Academies Press

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Werner C. (2009, June). Biogas Capture and Utilization: An Effective, Affordable Way to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Meet Local Energy Needs. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Retrieved on November 10, 2012

from http://www.eesi.org/files/biogas_issuebrief_061609.pdf

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Biogas versus Natural Gas Cara Berner(RBE), George Castronova(EVE), Lailah Thompson(IE)

Advisor: Professor Sharon Wulf(School of Business) & Professor Derren Rosbach (Civil & Environmental)

Promotional Plans

•Biogas can be created from Landfills, Municipal Waste Water, and Agricultural Waste •Biogas production from municipal waste water cleans the water while creating a viable energy source, addressing two problems at once •Biogas from Waste Water has been successfully implemented at 485 plants around the nation