SoCalGas to Offer Renewable Natural Gas at its Fueling Stations for the First Time

More low-carbon, clean-air fuel to become available for cars and trucks

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced it will soon begin using renewable natural gas for the first time at the 25 utility-owned natural gas vehicle fueling stations across its service territory, as well as at six fueling stations in the San Diego area. Last month, the utility received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for a pilot program to purchase the renewable fuel and capture the additional environmental credits generated. Today, it published a Request for Offer (RFO), and expects to complete gas purchase agreements in the near future. Photos of SoCalGas natural gas fueling stations are available here.

Read more…

UC Riverside Study Finds Renewable Natural Gas Can Help California

UC Riverside study finds California can replace up to 5 percent of its natural gas supply using existing raw materials and infrastructure.

Riverside, CA – The University of California, Riverside’s Center for Renewable Natural Gas has released a study evaluating California’s renewable methane production potential from in-state resources through landfill gas upgrading and anaerobic digestion. The study shows that renewable natural gas from existing resources can play a key role in helping the state achieve its climate and renewable energy goals.

Read more…

Wärtsilä biogas upgrading plant will significantly reduce methane emissions from US dairy facility

Puregas Solutions, a part of the technology group Wärtsilä, has been contracted to supply a turnkey biogas upgrading plant to the USA. The plant will upgrade an existing anaerobic digester (AD) to produce biomethane. It has been ordered by a leader in sustainable agricultural practices, located in the state of Oregon. The order was booked in the second quarter of 2018.

The Puregas solution will process 3100 cfm (cubic feet per minute) of biogas from the anaerobic digestion of manure from more than 50,000 dairy cows. The renewable natural gas will then be injected into a pipeline for use as transportation fuel in California, the adjoining state. The project generates Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, as well as credits under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).

Read more…

Big Name Industries Helping Biomethane and RNG Become Mainstream

While renewable natural gas (RNG) is nothing new to agriculture, particularly around areas of large concentrations of confined animal feeding, biomethane is getting some high profile converts from big name tech companies as a tool to reduce carbon emissions.

Over the past year, L’Oreal USA, Apple and Microsoft have all taken steps involving natural gas and RNG to reach “carbon neutral” goals.

By Dan Crummett, Farm Equipment.

Read more…

Southern California Gas Company Issues Request for Offers to Purchase RNG

RNG Coalition member Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) is issuing a Request for Offers (RFO) to Purchase Firm Renewable Natural Gas for up to three years to be used as Compressed Natural Gas dispensed to motor vehicles. 

To request a complete copy of the RFO and Offer Form, please email your contact information to SCG-GasAcqNotices@semprautilities.com. All offers must be submitted by 5:00pm on October 12, 2018.  

For more information on SoCalGas’ Renewable Gas programs, please visit: www.socalgas.com/smart-energy/renewable-gas.

Washington, DC releases updated sustainability plan with waste reuse goals

By Katie Pyzyk, Waste Dive.

The city of Washington, DC has released a draft of its updated sustainability plan, Sustainable DC 2.0, containing several waste-centric goals. The plan furthers the waste goals from the last Sustainable DC plan, and aims to realize real-world benefits for individuals, neighborhoods and the city as a whole.

The three goals are:

  • Goal 1: Reduce the volume of waste generated per capita in the District. Target 1: By 2032, reduce per capita waste generation by 15%.  

  • Goal 2: Facilitate local reuse and recovery of materials to capture their economic and social value. Target 2: By 2032, reuse 20% of all waste produced in the District.

  • Goal 3: Achieve "zero waste" citywide. Target 3: By 2032, achieve 80% waste diversion citywide.

The public has until September 30 to comment on the draft.

Read more…

New Study Shows Natural Gas Engine Can Dramatically Reduce Smog from Heavy-Duty Trucks

Simulated on-road testing shows the new Cummins Westport engine maintains near-zero emissions during all duty cycles

RIVERSIDE, Calif., Aug. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of California, Riverside College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) and Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced the results of a new study on ultra-low emission natural gas heavy-duty engines, showing a new 11.9-liter engine achieved California's lowest smog-forming emissions standard, and maintained those emission during all types of driving.   The study results underscore the ability of the near-zero truck engines to clean the air: most heavy-duty vehicles on roads today are predominantly diesel-powered and represent one of the largest sources of nitrogen oxide (NOx), or smog-forming, emissions and fuel consumption in North America.  By contrast, the new near-zero emissions 12-liter engine, made by Cummins Westport, is the only heavy-duty engine in the category to not only meet, but exceed, the California Air Resources Board's cleanest optional low-NOx standard of 0.02 g/bhp-hr. 

Kent Johnson, assistant research engineer at CE-CERT, led the tests on the near-zero emissions natural gas engine. The evaluation included regulated and non-regulated emissions, ultrafine particles, global warming potential, and fuel economy.  The testing was performed during in-use testing on a dynamometer that simulated various types of driving conditions, from pulling into a loading dock to regional hauling.  Johnson performed similar testing on an 8.9-liter near-zero natural gas engine last year.  Those results found the smaller engine had even lower emissions than California standards will require in the near future—in some driving conditions, almost zero.

Read more...

Xebec Chosen for City of Toronto’s Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Facility

MONTREAL, (QC), August 30th, 2018 – Xebec Adsorption Inc. (“Xebec”), a global provider of clean energy solutions, announced today that it has been selected by Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc (Enbridge) to be the supplier for the turn-key biogas upgrading system for the City of Toronto’s first Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility, located at the Dufferin Solid Waste Management Facility.

Xebec’s upgrading solution provides high performance and reliability along with low operating costs. Thanks to this leading technology, Xebec has been gaining worldwide market share, and is now making strong inroads into the North American market.

How Policy Impacts RNG Project Development

By Arlene Karidis, Waste360.

The U.S. renewable natural gas (RNG) industry is growing fast, with 78 projects up and running in North America (72 in the U.S.) and 54 more in the works across the U.S. The RNG Coalition, a trade association supporting the development and deployment of these projects, is pushing to see that number double by 2025.

If the growth trajectory happens, it could mitigate methane while bringing business opportunities to landfills, which produce most of the RNG sold in North America.

Read more...