Greenhouse gases are continuing to pile up in the atmosphere, and Ashley Belle with the University of Illinois Extension says people can use one potent greenhouse gas for the greater good.

Belle is the Environmental and Energy Stewardship Educator at the Extension, and she appeared as a guest on the Newstalk WTIM Morning Show. She says methane is a bigger problem than carbon dioxide because it is much more powerful.

Belle says livestock manure decomposing releases methane gas into the atmosphere. She says biogas can be made from methane and other feedstocks using anaerobic digestion technology.

Some farms are already using this technology, and Belle explains how it works.

She says there are three anaerobic digesters currently operating in the state, and the biogas being made are being used for heating and electricity.