Terminology
As with any industry there are terms that may be unfamiliar or need further explanation. Understanding these terms will help you better understand your industry and make informed decisions about the solutions available to you. Below are definitions to commonly used terms in your industry.

AFO — Animal Feeding Operation

Anaerobic digesters — can either occur naturally or in a controlled environment such as a biogas plant. Organic waste such as livestock manure and various types of bacteria are put in an airtight container so the process can occur. Depending on the waste feedstock and the system design, biogas is typically 55 to 75 percent pure methane. State-of-the-art systems report producing biogas that is more than 95 percent pure methane.

AU — Animal Unit
bio-drying Usually a composting-type process in which the residual waste is dried and biodegradable materials are broken down.

Bio-drying — Usually a composting-type process in which the residual waste is dried and biodegradable materials are broken down.

Bio-mass — material derived from plants, consisting of forestry residues, mill residues, urban wood waste, agricultural residues, and energy crops.

CAFO — (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) is an update to the EPA’s Clean Water Act. By 2007, regulations will require large agricultural operation’s to create and follow a plan to improve their water quality, odor emissions and greenhouse gases.

Collection — the act of gathering something together.

Conveying — transporting materials from one place to another.

CWA — clean Water Act

Electrical generation system — system used in the first process in the delivery of electricity to consumers.

ELG — Effluent Limitations Guidelines

Elimanure(TM) System — a conceptual design for a bio-mass boiler fueled by a manure incinerator. The end products would be ash rich in potassium, phosphorus and electricity.

EPA — Environmental Protection Agency. A part of the US federal government that enforces environmental laws and provides information and guidance to policy makers.

Green credit — a new way to purchase renewable electric generation that divides the generation into two separate products: the commodity energy and the renewable attributes. The green credit represents the renewable attributes of a single megawatt of renewable energy.

Green Energy — The energy that is produced and used in ways that produce less air pollution and other environmental impacts. Green energy provides two kinds of benefits: i) reduces environmental impacts of production and delivery of the energy we use; and ii) reduces the environmental emissions from the energy we use.

Greenhouse gases — Gases that trap the heat of the sun in the Earth's atmosphere, producing the greenhouse effect. The two major greenhouse gases are water vapor and carbon dioxide. Other greenhouse gases include methane, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrous oxide.

Liability exposure — the act of being subjected to a financial obligation, debt, claim, or potential loss.

Manure management — The method used to dispose of the solid waste produced by livestock and poultry.

Methane digesters see anaerobic digesters

NPDES — National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

NSPS — New Source Performance Standards

Odor emissions — Odors and gases are emitted from all livestock enterprises. The odors and gases emitted are a by-product of the microbial decomposition of manure and other organic matter.

Renewable energy — Energy obtained from sources that are essentially inexhaustible (unlike, for example, the fossil fuels, of which there is a finite supply). Renewable sources of energy include wood, waste, geothermal, wind, photovoltaic, and solar thermal energy.

Revenue Return Income (Savings) per year — realizing an increase in revenue through a decrease in expenditures.

Tax Credit (Agricultural Modernization & Expenses) — Tax savings as the result of an upgrade to farm facilities and equipment in an effort to remain competitive.

Tax Credit (Capital Expenditure) — Tax savings from an expenditure that creates an asset, for example: purchase of plant or machinery, or improvements to assets that increase their usefulness or extend their useful life.

Thermal gasification — the thermal degradation of materials by heat in the presence of a limited amount of air or oxygen, producing a combustible gas. This gas can then be used in either boilers or combustion turbine/generators. This process generates solid and liquid byproducts, which may contain high levels of toxic contaminants.

Turbine generators — A mechanism that spins to create power. It is made up of a rotor with blades or cups. Moving water, air, steam or gases turn the blades or cups. This spinning action creates electricity.

Turn- Key — When a customer purchases a system, the company they hire, manages the project completely from start to start-up. When the project is running according to the previously agreed upon conditions, the company installing the system turns the keys over to the customer, teaches the customer how to run the system, and both agree the system is functioning according to their agreement.

Waste-to-energy — an incineration process in which the organic fraction of solid waste is combusted and the released heat is utilized to generate hot water, steam, and electric power, leaving the inorganic fraction (ash) as a residue.

Water quality — used to describe the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water, usually in respect to its suitability for a particular purpose.