RNG NEWS
What's in Store for Natural Gas Vehicles, Post-Election 2014?
By Joseph Bebon, NGT News.
"In case you haven't heard, we had an election," quipped Richard Kolodziej, senior advisor at NGVAmerica, during the opening plenary session of last week's North American NGV Conference and Expo in Kansas City. He said the midterm election results, which handed control of Congress over to Republicans, represented a major change for politics in Washington and could greatly affect the natural gas vehicle industry. Furthermore, a panel of NGV sector leaders later offered their outlook for some key legislation.
Kolodziej kicked off an early part of the opening session titled "Below the Beltway - A Look at Post-Election Washington." It started with what seemed like a more-lighthearted version of CNN's old show "Crossfire," during which a liberal and conservative pundit would often debate a specified topic.
Aria Energy to be New Corporate Name and Brand for Landfill Energy Systems, Innovative Energy Systems and Timberline Energy
By Cory Ziskind, ICR for Aria Energy.
Landfill Energy Systems, Innovative Energy Systems and Timberline Energy today announced that they have consolidated their names and will now operate collectively as Aria Energy. The Company’s diversified portfolio of energy projects provides baseload renewable energy to utilities and other customers across the United States.
Richard M. DiGia, President & CEO of Aria Energy, commented: “We are entering a new chapter of growth as we continue to develop, own and operate renewable energy projects across the country. This consolidating change in our corporate and brand name better reflects our position in this industry and the degree of integration we have achieved. Our focus on owning, operating and developing long-lived energy projects that deliver stable long-term cash flows remains the same. We look forward to continuing to execute our growth and development strategy under our new name – Aria Energy.”
Republic Services' Good Samaritan Garbage Truck Driver Returns Full Wallet
By Andrea Castillo, The Fresno Bee.
The day started like any other work day for Heliodoro Banuelos. The 56-year-old Dinuba resident woke up Oct. 29 at 2:30 a.m. to be on time for his 4 a.m. shift as a garbage truck driver for Republic Services of Fresno. Then, around 1 p.m., he noticed something: A wallet.
By that time, Banuelos was emptying trash bins at the Dante Club at 6176 N. Grantland Ave., west of Highway 99. In the parking lot, 20 feet from the bins, he spotted a man’s wallet on the concrete. Inside was the man’s driver’ license, some credit cards and $300.
Waste Management Opens Illinois Unit Converting Landfill Gas to Natural Gas
By Allan Gerlat, Waste360.
Waste Management Inc. has opened an expanded landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) facility in Fairmont City, Ill., to convert it to natural gas.
The facility at Houston-based Waste Management’s Milam Landfill is designed to process 3,500 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) of incoming landfill gas, the company said in a news release. In early December the processed renewable natural gas will be injected into the Ameren Illinois pipeline for use at other locations, including some waste management facilities, according to a news release.
Our Landfill – More than Just Trash
By Debra Atlas, aNewsCafe.com.
It's tough to write about something you've never seen. When I decided to write about landfills, I realized I'd never been to one. So I arranged to visit Shasta County's West Central Landfill, which lies about 9 miles west on Clear Creek Road off Highway 273 in Redding.
The drive there took me through scorched land - the scene of the September 2013 Clover Fire that burned more than 8,000 acres near Igo. As devastated as the hills and forests had been, there were encouraging signs of a slow recovery.
When I arrived, my imagination smashed into reality. I had pictured trash everywhere, blowing loose. Clearly the wrong picture.
With Onsite Biogas and Fuel Cells, Microsoft Data Center Says No to the Grid
By Pete Danko, Breaking Energy.
Fuel cell proponents like to talk about how the devices can use biogas to create zero-carbon power, but that actually doesn’t happen very often. Typically, natural gas is the fuel that feeds the electrochemical process.
Not so at the Microsoft Data Plant in Cheyenne, Wyoming, however. This data center was built alongside a wastewater treatment plant, where anaerobic digesters break down you-know-what to produce the gas that feeds the fuel cells that keep the electronics humming.
Mapping Tool for CNG, LNG Station Eases NGV Range Anxiety
By NGT News, Next-Gen Transportation.
NGVAmerica has debuted its new Station Analysis Map - a web-based tool that allows users to not only identify natural gas stations, but also to ascertain the expected vehicle driving ranges that each station can support, in 100-, 400- and 600-mile increments.
The mapping tool draws its data regarding compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) refueling infrastructure - including station locations, accessibility and contact information - from the DOE's Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC). All the information is updated on a monthly basis.
"The new NGVAmerica Station Analysis Map is an important addition to our online resources that help further expand the use of natural gas as a vehicular fuel," says Matt Godlewski, president of NGVAmerica. "This tool will help industry leaders, fleet operators and consumers alike to further promote and take advantage of clean-burning, domestically abundant natural gas."
Novus Pacific to build Full-Scale Oregon Renewable Energy Plant
By Katie Fletcher, Biomass Magazine.
Novus Pacific LLC will soon break ground on an approximately $20 million renewable energy plant at the Port of Morrow in Boardman, Oregon, upon finalizing its financial package. About one year after commencement, the plant is expected to produce biogas, organic fertilizer and clean water for sale as valuable commodities derived primarily from onion and potato waste.
Novus Energy has been testing its trademarked Novus Bio-Catalytic (NBC) system on a mobile, 50-foot semi-trailer-mounted demonstration plant. According to Jeff Zierdt, vice president of process operations with Novus, it was time to move forward with a full-scale plant. “It is really the right time, we’re a leading-edge technology; it’s a sweet spot in terms of the alternative fuels, the low-carbon economy that people are pushing towards, and we’ll have a positive impact on the climate,” Zierdt said.
The company’s NBC process differs from traditional anaerobic digestion (AD) systems in that it requires only about four days to convert waste to biogas instead of around 20 like other AD operations.
Republic Services to Build Largest US Recycling Complex
By Zacks.com, NASDAQ.
Republic Silver State Disposal, Inc., a subsidiary of Republic Services, Inc. (RSG), recently announced the commencement of construction of a new recycling facility spanning 110,000 square feet in Southern Nevada. The new facility is expected to begin operations in fall 2015.
Named as the Southern Nevada Recycling Complex, the new facility will be adjacent to an existing 88,000 square feet facility and will be the largest residential recycling complex in the U.S.
Air Liquide acquires Sweden’s FordonsGas
By Stuart Radnedge, GasWorld.
Air Liquide has announced the completion of the agreement for the acquisition of FordonsGas – a company that distributes CBG (Compressed BioGas) for the Swedish transportation market.
Founded in 1998, FordonsGas owns and operates more than 40 CBG stations in Sweden, making it one of the largest distribution networks for this alternative fuel in that country. The company employs 32 people and currently generates annual revenue of around €20m. The CBG filling stations operated by FordonsGas enable the owners and users of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) - taxis, corporate vehicle fleets, buses, and passenger cars - to acquire fuel that is more environmentally friendly. Nearly 70% is produced from renewable energies.
In Sweden, Air Liquide has supplied its gas liquefaction technologies to one of the world’s largest facilities for biogas production. This acquisition will thus complement the Group’s positioning in the biogas market. Biogas is an alternative to fossil fuels which, like hydrogen, offers a response to energy and environmental challenges