Chevron Corp. is accelerating its push to convert cow manure into renewable natural gas as part of its effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

The oil major and its joint venture partner Brightmark LLC, a waste solutions manager, will build another 10 facilities to produce dairy biomethane to fuel long-haul trucks. They’re already developing 28 plants in seven states, with the first set to begin production this year.

The push comes as oil and gas producers face increasing pressure to show a roadmap to become more green. So-called renewable natural gas is produced from methane, the second-largest contributor to climate change. The technology for capturing methane from farms, landfills and other sites has been around for years, and is starting to gain traction as cities and businesses look for ways to curb emissions.

Chevron and other oil companies say the fuel is a net positive in the battle against global warming, but critics argue it’s just a crutch to keep fossil fuels in the mix.

Source: Bloomberg