RNG Coalition Post Election Recap & Insight

Democrats Win Control of U.S. House of Representatives 

Democrats went into election night needing a net gain of 23 seats to gain the majority (218 or more seats) in the U.S. House. As of noon ET on Wednesday, November 7, Democrats have won 221 House seats and Republicans have won 195 seats, with 19 races yet to be called. Though each race is determined by its own unique factors, it is noteworthy that Democratic candidates fared well in suburban districts across the country. The House Democratic majority in the next Congress is projected to be between 229 and 234 seats. 

Republicans Expand Majority in the U.S. Senate

Republicans held a 51-49 majority in the Senate prior to last night’s election. Thus far, the GOP has posted a net gain of 2 seats in the upper chamber, having defeated incumbent Democratic Senators in Indiana, Missouri and North Dakota. Several news outlets have called the Senate race in Florida for the Republican Rick Scott, though Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) is asking for a recount. These were all states that President Trump won in 2016. Democrats flipped a Republican held seat in Nevada, and the race in Arizona is yet to be called. Control of a Mississippi seat that is expected to remain in Republican hands will be determined in a late November run-off election. As a result, Republicans are expected to control between 52 and 54 seats in the Senate, depending on the final outcome of the elections in Florida, Mississippi and Arizona.

Unlikely Allies Join Together to Save the Monarch Butterfly

By Jennifer Shike, Ag Pro.

The world’s largest pork processor and hog producer, Smithfield Foods, Inc., is the first food company to participate in a new program with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) to restore key prairie habitat for monarch butterflies.

Together, these three groups want to help bring back this iconic insect which has experienced a 95% population decline since the 1980s and could be listed as a threatened species by next June. The monarch is currently undergoing what is anticipated to be the largest migration in 10 years. 

Read more…

EPA recognizes Dodge City for Excellence and Innovation in Clean Water Infrastructure

This new project plans to clean and pressurize the biogas to high quality natural gas that can be used as fuel.

This process will occur by removing water from the gas and using pressure swing adsorption molecular sieves to separate the gasses.

A more purified methane biogas will then be pumped to a nearby gas line and entered into the commercial market as a renewal resource. The methane will be sold by the City as motor vehicle fuel across the Midwest.

By Gatehouse Kansas.

Read more…

Biosolids In The Urban Metropolis: Long-Term Planning For New York City

By Jennifer McDonnell And Pam Elardo.

Everything may be bigger in Texas, but there is more of everything in New York City — including biosolids, which require smart, sustainable management.

New York City is a bustling metropolis with over 8.5 million residents and millions more commuters and tourists. The Department of Environmental Protection provides clean drinking water as well as stormwater management and wastewater treatment to the city, across all five boroughs. Wastewater treatment is accomplished through a network of over 7,000 miles of local conveyance, 152 miles of intercepting sewers, 96 pump stations, four combined sanitary and storm flow retention facilities, and 14 wastewater treatment plants (range: 40 MGD to 310 MGD; 1.8 BGD total dry flow).

Read more…

Use of RNG helps UPS receives Smartway Excellence award from EPA

The SmartWay Excellence award recognizes leading carriers who have made significant contributions to reducing the impact of freight transportation on air quality.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented UPSwith a SmartWay Excellence award, which recognizes leading carriers who have made significant contributions to reducing the impact of freight transportation on air quality.

“UPS is committed to delivering goods to people in the most sustainable way possible,” said Tamara Barker, chief sustainability officer, vice president of environmental affairs and domestic plant engineering at UPS. “We are honored to be recognized by the EPA for our accomplishments and look forward to continuing our work to create smarter and cleaner communities.”

Via Vehicle Service Pros.

Read more…

How a Pennsylvania Trash Company is Working to Build RNG Infrastructure

Vogel Disposal Service seeks to eventually fill its 220-vehicle fleet at one of several fueling stations it will own, one day bypassing the utility.

Vogel Disposal Service has become Pennsylvania’s first waste company to make renewable natural gas (RNG) from its methane and to build its own compressed natural gas (CNG) stations fueling that gas. The Mars, Pa.-based integrated trash company that began with eight CNG trucks around 2010 wants to eventually fill its 220-vehicle fleet at one of several fueling stations it will own in Western Pennsylvania.  

Two stations are up and running—one at Seneca Landfill in Evans City and another at its Mars hauling location. Vogel is on trajectory to launch two more stations next year for its own operations that will also open to the public.

By Arlene Karidis, Waste 360.

Read more…

VERBIO North America to Purchase Nevada, Iowa Cellulosic Ethanol Facility from DuPont Industrial Biosciences

VERBIO intends to use the facility to produce cellulosic renewable natural gas

NEVADA, Iowa, November 8, 2018 — It was announced jointly today that DuPont Industrial Biosciences (DuPont) and VERBIO North America Corporation (VNA), the U.S. subsidiary of leading German bioenergy producer VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG (VERBIO), have reached terms for VNA to acquire DuPont’s Nevada, Iowa-based cellulosic ethanol plant and a portion of its corn stover inventory. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in November. VNA intends to install facilities to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) made from corn stover and other cellulosic crop residues at the site. This would be VERBIO’s third production facility devoted to this cellulosic technology – in 2014, the company commissioned its first facility in Schwedt, Germany, and its second facility in Pinnow, Germany is currently being commissioned.

Washington state carbon tax poised to fail after Big Oil campaign

By Nichola Groom, CNBC.

Nov 7 (Reuters) - Washington state was heading towards rejecting a ballot initiative to create the first carbon tax in the United States, a tally of about 80 percent of votes showed early on Wednesday, after an oil industry campaign argued it would hurt the economy.

The Carbon Emissions Fee and Revenue Allocation Initiative, known as Initiative 1631, would have imposed a $15 fee on each metric ton of carbon emissions, rising $2 a year until the state's 2035 emissions target is met.

Read more…

Hexagon Composites to Acquire Agility Fuel Solutions

Costa Mesa, California, Nov. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hexagon Composites ASA (OSE:HEX) (“Hexagon”) has signed an agreement to acquire the remaining 50% of Agility Fuel Solutions Holdings Inc. (“Agility”).  By bringing together two leading players in clean energy, the two companies will become an even stronger force in driving energy transformation globally by promoting the alternatives of natural gas, biogas, hydrogen, propane and electrification.  The combined business will provide clean energy solutions to a wide range of end markets around the world, including household, industrial, gas transportation, marine, rail, and light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

The transaction values Agility’s equity at USD 250 million (NOK 2.1 billion) on a 100% basis. The signing of the agreement took place on November 8, 2018 with closing expected in January 2019.

California Green-Lights $483 Million for Clean Transportation

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently approved a $483 million plan to fund clean car rebates, zero-emission transit and school buses, clean trucks, and other clean transportation and mobility pilot projects.

The Fiscal Year 2018-19 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives, largely funded with cap-and-trade proceeds, is part of California’s comprehensive strategy for improving air quality and reducing greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector, the state’s largest source of air pollution and climate-changing gases, according to CARB.

By Betsy Lillian, NGT News.

Read more…