Minnesota on its Way to Distributing State-Made RNG
Minnesota is one of the top organic farm waste generators in the U.S., ranking first in turkey production, second in hog production, and sixth in both red meat and dairy production, and it’s looking hard at ways to both divert and capitalize on that waste. The northern Midwest state is reviewing proposed legislation to advance renewable natural gas (RNG) distribution and has approved the first RNG interconnection tariff in that state, enabling its largest natural gas utility to offer interstate connections to suppliers of Minnesota-made clean fuel.
CenterPoint Energy (CPE), serving more than 870,000 customers in Minnesota, says the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s green light on the interconnection tariff is the first step toward encouraging development of local RNG. The company expects most suppliers will provide fuel for the transportation market beyond Minnesota and eventually hopes to purchase fuel for its own customers to use in homes and businesses. The RNG will be sourced from food waste, wastewater, and/or agricultural waste.