Renewable Natural Gas - What is up with the cow belching?

Oregano, the solution to the problem, or the problem to the solution?

According to Wikipedia
"Renewable natural gas, also known as sustainable natural gas, is a biogas which has been upgraded to a quality similar to fossil natural gas. A biogas is a gas methane obtained from biomass. By upgrading the quality to that of natural gas, it becomes possible to distribute the gas to customers via the existing gas grid, and burned within existing appliances."

With Kennecott's recent announcement to move to using natural gas for power, and Utah being in the top 10 states with natural gas reserves, what is stopping Utah from promoting what we have and making more?

According to the Salt Lake Tribune:
"The company will retire three coal-fired plants and replace them by 2014 with a gas-fired plant that not only generates electricity but also captures and uses waste heat. Kennecott will gain 100 megawatts of new power, while dramatically reducing pollutants at the company’s refinery, located near the southern edge of Great Salt Lake.

"The proposed changes, which require state approval, would reduce Kennecott’s overall air pollution by 20 percent."

As discussed in The Huffington Post, Utah already has great potential for Solar, Wind and Geothermal, why not add more biogas production to the mix? We seem to have enough hog, cow, egg, and turkey farms, along with plenty of generated garbage. We are doing some in this area, what can we do to be better?

Oregano, the solution to the problem, or the problem to the solution?
http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/05/12/477699832/can-oregano-fight-cow-belches-and-climate-change
 [updated link. Previous Link didn't work anymore]

Cap and Trade Energy bill replacement

If any National Renewable Energy bill is passed, it could be as simple as:

"To the extent that it is cost effective to do so, beginning in 2025 the annual retail electric sales of each electrical corporation providing power across state lines shall consist of qualifying electricity or renewable energy certificates in an amount equal to at least 20% of adjusted retail electric sales."

Utah has Renewable Energy Goals as State Law.

"To the extent that it is cost effective to do so, beginning in 2025 the annual retail electric sales in this state of each electrical corporation shall consist of qualifying electricity or renewable energy certificates in an amount equal to at least 20% of adjusted retail electric sales."

http://www.le.utah.gov/UtahCode/getCodeSection?code=54-17-602

The bill that was passed:
http://le.utah.gov/~2008/bills/sbillenr/sb0202.htm

Curtis S. Bramble, Utah State Senator (R), District 16 invited all groups effected or interested that would sit at the table to get involved in the bill. In this case, Senator Bramble was a consensus builder. No one voted against this bill, House or Senate. That is what we need nationally, and it isn't happening.

Does it work? See:
http://geology.utah.gov/emp/energydata/statistics/renewables6.0/T6.8.xls

Clean Energy, Air, Water, Land

We need clean energy, clean air, clean water, clean land and energy independence. We also need to encourage energy efficiency and technologies such as ground source heat pumps.

We may not agree with each other re: Co2 cap/trade, taxes, or our effects on climate.

We do need more renewable energy. Coal is reportedly being removed fast enough in Utah that it could last only 15 to 45 years for use in Utah at current rates.

Many existing coal source locations could shut down soon, and we have increased risk of other mining collapses if they don't.

We will need more electricity to offset a reduction in the use of foreign oil, and we can't afford to just rely on coal.

How much oil and gas is untapped in Utah and can we get it without hurting our state treasures?

Do we have existing dams that we could add hydro power to, without putting more land underwater, hurting our rivers and/or wildlife?

What percentage of the energy we make should be exported? How close to a balance can we get?

It has been pointed out that renewable energy will help the state's economy in places that coal, or gas won't. Renewable energy being added to the mix will increase the life of the Utah coal economy.

http://utahcleanenergy.org/files/u1/Executive_SummaryFINAL.pdf

http://utahcleanenergy.org/files/u1/Economic_Development_Study_Full_Report_FINAL.pdf

http://www.utah.gov/governor/docs/10year-stragegic-energy.pdf

Having goals to rely on renewable energy and energy savings to make up the increased demand on power is good.

http://geology.utah.gov/emp/energydata/statistics/renewables6.0/pdf/T6.4.pdf