RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Utah Legislation to encourage CNG conversion
By US Gas Vehicles.
Rep. Stephen Handy, R-Layton, is sponsoring legislation, HB 15, to offer taxpayers a rebate if they retrofit their vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG) from gasoline, as part of an effort to limit emissions along the Wasatch Front. Approximately 66 percent of the air pollution in Utah is linked to tailpipes. The rebate could be as much as $2,500 for the conversion to CNG, Handy said.
Nethersole Hospital to use methane gas from landfill in green power plan
By Elizabeth Cheung, South China Morning Post.
Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po plans to use landfill gas to generate electricity in an attempt to go greener.
It is the first hospital to trial the alternative energy supply. It will cost HK$13 million for installation and the system is still being designed. It is expected to be ready for use in July next year.
A generator will be used for a combined heat and power system. While it produces electricity, waste heat at a temperature of 500 degrees Celsius from the generator's exhaust will go to a boiler to produce steam. Waste heat from generator cooling will also be used in a heat exchanger for hot-water supply.
Senators Introduce Bills to Advance Renewable Energy in Nebraska
By KNOP News Channel 2.
State senators announced Friday that they will introduce five bills intended to advance Nebraska's renewable energy industry, increase economic development and provide property tax benefits.
“These bills will help to incentivize growth and investment in Nebraska over surrounding states and also remove barriers to renewable energy development in our state,” said Sen. Jeremy Nordquist, who is sponsoring one of the bills.
Nordquist’s bill would create a Nebraska production tax credit for renewable electric generation facilities and would allow the credit to be transferable. Surrounding states, including Iowa and Oklahoma, already offer a credit against state income tax for each kilowatt hour of electricity that a renewable energy generation facility produces.
EPA: 2014 cellulosic RIN generation tops 33 million
By Erin Voegele, Ethanol Producer Magazine.
The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for December, reporting that more than 8.53 million cellulosic RINs were generated during the month. EIA data currently shows more than 33.01 million cellulosic RINs were generated in 2014.
According to the EPA, more than 8.53 million D3 cellulosic biofuel RINs were generated in December, bringing the total for 2014 to 32.96 million. That number includes 683,643 D3 RINs generated for ethanol, 44,168 generated for cellulosic renewable gasoline, 14.91 million generated for renewable compressed natural gas and 17.35 million generated for renewable liquefied natural gas. All 32.98 million D3 RINs generated last year were generated by domestic producers.
Richard Erskine Elected Texas Pipeline Association Chairman
By Oil & Gas Investor.
Richard Erskine, president of Atmos Pipeline—Texas, was elected chairman of the Texas Pipeline Association (TPA), the largest state trade association in the country, according to a Jan. 13 release.
The TPA solely represents the interests of the intrastate pipeline network.
"I am proud to welcome an industry professional who brings extensive midstream sector expertise, Richard Erskine, as TPA’s chairman," said Thure Cannon, president of TPA. "I would also like to extend my thanks to outgoing TPA Chairman, Michael T. Hunter, for his excellent leadership over the past year."
Michigan Governor to wean state off coal as an energy source
By Emily Lawler, MLive.
Gov. Rick Snyder on Thursday at a conference of the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum said energy issues were a high priority for him in 2015, and one of the things he'd like to accomplish is reducing the state's dependence on coal. "I think there is a large window of opportunity in the state," Snyder said. "Now is the time to look at a long term transition away from coal."
The Republican governor suggested that coal be replaced by a variety of cleaner sources, including natural gas. Because of Michigan's natural gas production and infrastructure, "we're well positioned to actually have a fair amount of that coal demand go to natural gas," Snyder said.
He also gave a nod to other energy sources.
Massachusetts: Governor Baker appoints controversial new energy team
By David Abel, The Boston Globe.
The administration announced that Robert Hayden will serve as commissioner of the Department of Public Utilities, which is responsible for ensuring the state’s electricity and gas utilities provide safe, reliable, and affordable energy while also encouraging energy efficiency and cleaner energy. Hayden ran in a losing bid for Congress in 2010.
Angela O’Connor, who founded the New England Power Generators Association and served as its president for six years, will serve as chairwoman of the Department of Public Utilities, a position in which she will oversee the agency’s budget and personnel.
Ron Gerwatowski, a former senior vice president for regulation and pricing at National Grid, will serve as assistant secretary for energy under Matthew Beaton, a former Republican state representative who is serving as secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
10 Cities aim for 100% Renewable Energy
By Sami Grover, Mother Nature Network.
As I recently reported over at TreeHugger, a new grassroots movement has launched petitions in hundreds of cities across the world calling for a transition to 100 percent renewable energy/zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. While this may have sounded like wishful thinking a few short years ago, these activists are actually building on a growing number of communities that have already taken such pledges — and some who appear to have achieved them.
So who are these leaders in the clean energy world?
A Fresh Angle: RNG (in Ohio & Michigan)
An interview with cal Peters by Jack Spencer, Michigan Capitol Confidential.
Cal Peters retired from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in 2013 after being employed as an investigator with the Air Quality Division for 33 years. In 2014, when the state of Ohio enacted significant reforms to its “Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS),” or renewable energy mandate, Peters observed, and to an extent participated, with a unique perspective.
Mindful that the Michigan Legislature is preparing to review its RPS this year, Michigan Capitol Confidential interviewed Peters on Jan. 8. The following are excerpts from that interview.
The Economics of Waste to Energy
By Vicki P. McConnell, Renewable Energy Focus.
In this first of a two-part article, Vicki P. McConnell, Fuel Cell Bulletin contributor, looks at scavenging waste for energy, with a view of the practicalities of bioH2 for fuel cells.
Fuel cell manufacturers worldwide have been examining waste-to-energy applications (WtE, also referred to as EfW, energy from waste, and more specifically hydrogen from waste) since the early 1990s. During that time, proton-exchange membrane (PEMFC), alkaline (AFC), molten carbonate and direct carbonate (MCFC/DFC), solid oxide (SOFC), and phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC) have been demonstrated. Recent, promising WtE economics are resulting from biogas-fueled fuel cells that can generate multiple revenue streams at MW scale.
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