Bright Biomethane North America to Supply RNG Projects in New York

Bright Biomethane North America, which was recently established, announced that its first renewable natural gas (RNG) projects will be realized in New York. According to the company, these will be the first RNG projects on the East Coast with high-efficient 3-step membrane separation technology, and some of the first in the U.S. to use this technology.

Bright Biomethane’s 3-step membrane technology ensures high biomethane quality and CH4 (methane) recovery of at least 99.5 percent, with a methane loss of 0.5 percent.

By Waste 360

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LA Metro Repowers Slew of CNG Transit Buses

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) recently completed an engine retrofit project to reduce emissions on a significant number of its fleet of more than 2,200 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.

Metro repowered 125 of its transit buses with the Cummins Westport ISL G Near Zero and L9N heavy-duty natural gas engines, which are expected to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 90% and greenhouse gases by 9%.

By NGT News

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Kinetrex Energy Launches Greenhouse Gas Fleet Emissions Calculator

Kinetrex Energy released a new online GHG emissions calculator today that makes it simple for fleet managers to measure their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a first step in creating a more “greener” vehicle fleet. Users enter the number of gallons of diesel fuel their fleet consumes annually and the calculator automatically provides a “greenhouse gas accounting.”

“It’s now common knowledge that natural gas vehicles, particularly those running on renewable natural gas, are the cleanest practical alternative fuel transportation technology available today,” said Aaron Johnson, CEO of Kinetrex Energy. “Our new greenhouse gas emissions calculator will indicate just how much cleaner your fleet can be by using Kinetrex fuel.”

By Kinetrex Energy

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SoCalGas Celebrates Opening of New LEED-Certified Regional Base in Bakersfield

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony today to celebrate the opening of a new net-zero energy building which will serve as its regional base. The building earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) for its environmental benefits, which include a photovoltaic solar energy system, storm water management, drought-resistant and climate-appropriate landscaping, the use of natural lighting for the wellness of employees and a super energy-efficient air conditioning system power by natural gas instead of electricity. Photos of the ribbon cutting ceremony are available here.

The 31,000 square-foot building is located at 35118 McMurtrey Avenue in Bakersfield near the connection of Highways 99 and 65. It includes an employee training facility and customer demonstration center, plus a separate storage building, garage, photovoltaic solar energy system and compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station for company and public use. Opening in the fall, the CNG station will make it easier for truck drivers to fuel up with clean natural gas instead of diesel. SoCalGas plans to dispense 100 percent renewable natural gas at the fueling station when it opens.

By Market Screener

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RFS Reset Plan from EPA Still Not Coming Soon

The notice of proposed rulemaking for the reset of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is still a ways off as there are now additional meetings scheduled on the topic at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) which is currently reviewing the EPA proposal on the topic.

So far, a total of nine meetings have been held or will be held at OMB on the reset plan. Sessions this week included one Monday with representatives of the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas. A meeting will take place Wednesday with a representative of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and a session Friday is on tap with PBF Energy.

By Progressive Farmer

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Renewable Energy Effort Driven by Hog Waste

In partnership, Roeslein Alternative Energy and Smithfield Hog Production are working to capture renewable natural gas from the waste of the approximate 2 million hogs that circulate through Smithfield’s northern Missouri operations each year. 

The venture, now called Monarch Bio Energy, was first initialized by RAE’s founder Rudi Roeslein in 2011 when he approached Smithfield Hog Production’s predecessor company Murphy Brown about the project; the conversations resulted in a business agreement in 2012 to launch Horizon 1 of Roeslein’s RNG project. Believing in the ultimate success of the model, Roeslein committed to invest in the needed infrastructure on the farms and financially support the project through initial phases. 

By Laura Handke, High Plains Journal

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Oneida County Converting Food Waste into RNG

New York state will soon require large generators of food waste donate what they can to those in need and compost the rest. The mandate won't go into effect until 2022, but work is already underway in the Mohawk Valley to meet this new recycling challenge.

Bill Rabbia, executive director of the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (OHSWA), says they do their best to make one last use of the trash that ends up in landfills by capturing the methane gas it emits to generate electricity. However, Rabbia says the system is imperfect.

By Payne Horning, WRVO

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Hawaii Gas Increases Sustainability with the State's Aloha+ Challenge

Throughout its history, Hawaii Gas has continued to evolve its business to meet the ever changing energy needs of the local community. Today is no different. HG continually strives to make its products cleaner, more affordable, and more efficient. We are committed to helping the state achieve its clean energy and sustainability goals, which is why we have been taking action.

In 2017, Hawaii Gas joined forces with the governor, the state’s four county mayors, Office of Hawaiian Affairs and community stakeholders in committing to what’s known as the ALOHA+ CHALLENGE.

By Hawaii Gas

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The Future of Landfill Gas-to-energy

Operators champion landfill gas as a source of renewable energy and revenue. But as communities seek to divert more organics and climate anxiety intensifies, the practice has been decried as greenwashing.

The full story of landfill gas (LFG) is complicated.

Capturing LFG creates beneficial use opportunities and earns operators revenue, in addition to reducing the global warming potential of the gas that is successfully captured. However, the system may be imperfect from an economic and environmental standpoint. Other forms of electricity generation from waste have efficiency advantages, and the ability of LFG capture systems to effectively mitigate net greenhouse gas emissions is contested. 

By Max Witynski, Waste Dive

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Xebec Announces Inclusion in DOE Project to Enable Economical Biomethane Production

Xebec Adsorption Inc. (TSXV: XBC) (OTC: XEBEF) (“Xebec”), a global provider of clean energy solutions is pleased to announce today its inclusion in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) US$24 million commitment to a public-private collaboration funding 77 energy technology projects.

With matching funds from the private sector, the Office of Technology Transition’s (OTT) Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) will advance the commercialization of promising energy technologies and strengthen partnerships between DOE’s National Laboratories and private sector companies to deploy these technologies to the marketplace.

By Oil & Gas 360

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