RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.House Passes PTC Extension through End of 2014
By David Burton, JD Supra.
Today, the House passed H.R. 5771. To become law, H.R. 5571 must still pass the Senate and be signed by the President. We expect both of those steps will occur by the end of the year.
H.R. 5571 would extend the fifty tax incentives that expired at the end of 2013 through the end of 2014. For the production tax credit, section 155 of the bill provides that a wind project must “start construction” prior to January 1, 2015 to be eligible for tax credits. This would be a change from the current deadline of January 1, 2014.
The Clean Power Plan is a Climate Game Changer. Here are Seven Ways to Strengthen it.
By Rachel Cleetus, Union of Concerned Scientists.
Yesterday the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) submitted its comments on the draft Clean Power Plan (CPP) to the EPA. Joining millions of others, we registered our strong support for these historic, first-ever limits on carbon emissions from power plants, which are the single largest source of these emissions in the United States. This rule could be a climate game changer. We also recommended a number of ways the plan should be strengthened and improved, especially by increasing renewable energy contributions.
Here’s where you can find an executive summary and our full comments.
Oil industry: Delaying cap-and-trade now a tougher sell
By Allen Young, Sacramento Business Journal .
California's oil industry gained attention this summer by funding groups with names like Fed Up At The Pump that staged a campaign against a 'hidden gas tax' that would spike fuel costs up to 76 cents per gallon as a result of California's cap-and-trade program.
But with the program going into effect in January, the Western States Petroleum Association acknowledges that reversing it now would be more challenging, both as a political exercise and economically because it could create market uncertainty.
Indiana landfill gas-to-energy project begins operations
By Republic Services.
Republic Services Inc. recently announced the start of operations at its latest landfill gas-to-energy project. The new 6 MW project at County Line Landfill involves four engines operating at one energy generation facility. The project is capable of generating enough energy to power more than 3,200 area homes.
"We are serious about developing innovative uses for landfill gas whenever possible," said Mark Watson, area president of Republic Services. "Any time a waste byproduct can be harnessed into renewable energy, it's an incredible opportunity. Our employees are particularly proud to be part of this project, and doing their part to leave a cleaner and healthier northern Indiana for future generations."
Michigan needs ‘all of the above’ energy policy
By Keith den Hollander, The Detroit News.
The priorities we set today will impact Michiganians for generations to come. Conservatives have a real opportunity to lead when it comes to Michigan’s energy future.
Currently, more than 50 percent of Michigan’s electricity is generated by burning coal, a resource not found locally, and one that we pay to have shipped in from other states. We must continue to transition Michigan away from coal, and toward energy forms that are cleaner, and can be locally secured. Natural gas and renewable energy both meet those criteria.
As conservatives, we feel strongly that using more renewable energy will reduce the amount of fuel we import from other nations...
Trash to cash: Quebec town aims to turn food waste into gas, profits
By CTV News.
A Quebec town known for producing food is now working to convert organic food waste into natural gas on a large scale.
Ste-Hyacinthe, Que., located about 60 kilometres northeast of Montreal, has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15,000 tonnes a year through its conversion of waste to gas.
In order to produce the gas, organic waste from local cheese and yogurt factories is collected, and the gas is extracted from the waste. The biogas is used to fuel up a fleet of city cars and heat city buildings, while the leftover organic waste is composted and used to beautify the city's parks and gardens.
CalRECYCLE Issues Grants for eight Renewable Energy Projects
By Renewable Energy from Waste.
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), Sacramento, has issued $19.5 million in grant money to eight projects in the state that CalRecycle says will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The grant money will be used for construction of new facilities, expansion of existing facilities and equipment upgrades to process more recycled materials. The grants, using proceeds from the state’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, are awarded based primarily on contributions to the state’s greenhouse gas reduction targets.
CalRecycle says the projects also are important in the state’s effort to reach its statewide goal of 75 percent recycling, composting and source reduction by 2020.
Food Waste to Renewable Energy
By US Environmental Protection Agency.
On Tuesday, November 25, EPA's Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator and City of San José officials will tour the city’s Zero Waste Energy Development anaerobic digestion facility where food scraps are turned into renewable energy and compost for local farms. The facility’s state-of-the-art dry anaerobic digesters use bacteria to break down food waste in an oxygen-free environment, converting it into methane biogas to generate electricity. The facility can digest and compost 90,000 tons of food waste and produce 1.6 megawatts per year. San José aims to achieve zero waste by 2022 and now diverts 74 percent of materials from the landfill through reuse, recycling, composting and anaerobic digestion.
Energy Vision Hands Out Leadership Awards
By John Davis, Domestic Fuel.
Some real energy leaders have been recognized for their innovations in scaling up renewable natural gas (RNG) vehicle fuel made from organic waste such as food, farm and yard waste and wastewater treatment products. This news release from Energy Vision, a national non-profit analyzing and promoting clean, renewable, petroleum-free transportation fuels, says the group gave out its 2014 Leadership Awards during a gala event in Manhattan.
RNG has ultra-low emissions and is growing fast. It has the potential to power many of America’s 10 million heavy trucks and buses. Converting 25% of them could displace more than 9 billion gallons of diesel fuel and cut GHG emissions over 89 million tons annually.
Himark BioGas Awarded Patent for Clean Slate Grit Removal System
By Himark BioGas International
Himark BioGas International has announced the issuance to it by the South African Patents Office of a patent that covers a grit removal system for anaerobic digester (AD) tanks. The system removes indigestible solids, including rocks, stones, sand, metal objects, or other indigestible organic or inorganic foreign objects settled on the tank floor during the production of methane-rich biogas for CNG, electricity, steam/heat production or natural gas pipeline injection.
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