Farm Bill Passing NC Senate Includes New Biogas Permits

The annual farm bill has been approved by the North Carolina Senate. The Republican-written measure passed Tuesday on a party-line vote despite criticism of a provision that likely would make it easier for livestock operations to seek and obtain permits to convert liquid waste into natural gas. Currently these operators seek individual permits. The bill proposes that state regulators issue general permits that are considered more streamlined. The pork industry supports the change. Opponents say the measure now heading to the House would make it harder to rid the industry of putrid waste lagoon systems in the long term.