title: An evaluation of the social and private efficiency of adoption: anaerobic digesters and greenhouse gas mitigation.
abstract: Climate science has begun to recognize the important role of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions, including methane. Given the important contribution of methane, anaerobic digesters (ADs) on dairy farms in the U.S. present an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We quantify the social and private costs and benefits of ADs that have been adopted in California and find that, despite high initial costs, large reductions in GHG emissions bring significant social benefits and represent good social investments given a $36 per-ton social cost of carbon. Subsidies that lower the initial private investment cost can help align socially and privately optimal adoption decisions.
authors.affiliation: Dept. Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, B-303 Clark Building, Fort Collins, CO, USA. Electronic address: dale.manning@colostate.edu.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Manning
authors.affiliation: Dept. Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, B-303 Clark Building, Fort Collins, CO, USA. Electronic address: joleen.hadrich@colostate.edu.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hadrich
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002140:California; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017752:Greenhouse Effect / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008372:Manure; D008697:Methane; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008372:Manure; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002244:Carbon; D008697:Methane
keywords: Anaerobic digesters; Dairy; Methane; Social cost and benefit