The Resource Conservation and Recycling Act of 1976 set standards for emissions of many bi-products of production and processes in the US. It enforces these standards through the US Environmental Protection Agency, which is empowered to impose penalties for non-compliance. With regard to agriculture, one section specifically addresses Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO’s). In the past, livestock production has been largely ignored or exempted from the specific regulations enforced on industry, and thus was not forced to adequately control discharges of toxic material into the atmosphere and water. This special allowance has lead to widespread abuses and significant long-term problems affecting society and the environment. During the past decade, global and local environmental groups have raised warnings and awareness of the affect of these abuses, and instigated lawsuits and legislative actions aimed at curbing them. In the past 5 years, the U.S. EPA has begun enforcing the CAFO regulations, and of late has signaled an inclination to eliminate ‘grandfathered’ exempt status for existing operations.

The effect has been a call to reduce such emissions, and though not specifically signed by the US, to generally adopt the spirit and direction of the Kyoto Accord with regard to the ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions. Of particular note are the CO2 emissions goals and water pollution reductions.

Recently, energy prices in the US and around the world have escalated dramatically; whether in the form of electricity, petroleum hydrocarbons (gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas) or coal. The economic impact of this rise in energy costs, combined with the America’s desire to seek energy independence from foreign oil, cannot be overstated. The opportunity to introduce new and innovative methods of production and delivery of energy may be at its greatest in the last 5 decades. When combined with the desire to reduce emissions hazardous to the environment, the opportunity is great for innovation and implementation of a new paradigm such as IBERP by Integrated Organic Energy.