RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Biogas a boost for city
By Wayne Moore, Castanet.
FortisBC is hoping its natural gas customers will pay more to help the environment.
The utility company has introduced a new program that will allow you to introduce renewable natural gas into the system.
Promotional material included with the latest Fortis bill tells consumers for as little as $3 more a month for an average home, customers can designate up to five per cent of the natural gas they use as "renewable."
Progressive Waste Solutions Opens Landfill-Gas-to-Energy Facility Near Montreal
By NGV America News.
Progressive Waste Solutions celebrated the official opening of its renewable natural gas (RNG) facility, the largest of its kind in Canada and one of the largest in North America. The facility located in Terrebonne, Quebec, near Montreal, is converting landfill gas to natural gas which is then delivered to the TransCanada pipeline network, via an injection point adjacent to the landfill site. The facility is designed to process approximately 10,000 cubic feet per minute of incoming landfill gas.
“Our investment in this facility, along with the investment we are making to convert certain portions of our collection fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG) from diesel fuel, demonstrates our commitment to environmentally sustainable practices as well as reducing our carbon footprint,” said Dan Pio, executive vice president, strategy and business development, Progressive Waste Solutions.
Michigan governor sets 30-40% renewables, energy efficiency goal
By Bob Matyi, Platts.
Michigan must meet 30-40% of its energy needs by 2025 with renewables and energy efficiency, with natural gas also playing a key role in replacing the state's reliance on coal-fired generation, Governor Rick Snyder said Friday.
During a long-awaited speech by the two-term Republican governor, Snyder also offered tacit support for retaining Michigan's 2008 electric choice law, which caps competition at 10%. But he did not call for raising the cap or eliminating choice altogether, as rival groups conversely advocate.
EPA recognizes Sand Valley Landfill renewable energy project
By Penn Energy.
Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) announced today that its Sand Valley Landfill Gas-to-Energy (LFGTE) project in Collinsville, Ala. has been named Electricity Project of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.) The EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program recognized the Sand Valley renewable energy project with the award at a workshop held yesterday in conjunction with the Solid Waste Association of North America's 38th Annual Landfill Gas & Biogas Symposium.
"Society requires the modern landfill to be more sophisticated than ever before, leveraging science to protect the air, land and water upon which we depend," said Gregg Brummer, East Region vice president for Republic Services. "We believe the modern landfill can do more than protect the local environment. In many cases, landfills enable scientists and engineers to harness energy from waste decomposition and convert it into a renewable power source. Our employees are humbled by the EPA's recognition, and they are proud to be part of a project that will provide economic and environmental benefits to their community for years to come."
The 2014 D3 RIN Leap—For Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)
By Susanne Retka Schill, Ethanol Producer Magazine.
Cellulosic biofuel production took a giant leap in 2014, mostly from renewable natural gas and not so much from the two commercial-scale ethanol facilities brought online last year. In July, the U.S. EPA announced that cellulosic biogas used as transportation fuel could earn D3 RINs and in one month’s time, D3 RINs generation soared from the 4,000 recorded for July to 3.49 million for August. In September, that more than doubled to 7.56 million. The total for the year stood at 33.02 million D3 RINs. Of that, 683,000 came from cellulosic ethanol.
RINs are the renewable identification numbers used to identify and track biofuel production that obligated parties need to demonstrate blending for compliance with the renewable fuel standard (RFS). D3 is the RIN code for cellulosic biofuel, which includes ethanol, renewable diesel and, now, renewable natural gas.
Hatch, Wyden Launch New Effort to Seek Input on Bipartisan Tax Reform
By McGuireWoods LLP.
WASHINGTON – Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced a bipartisan effort to begin soliciting ideas from interested members of the public and stakeholders on how best to overhaul the nation’s broken tax code to make it simpler, fairer, and more efficient. The goal of this effort is to provide additional input, data, and information to the Committee’s bipartisan tax working groups, which are currently analyzing existing tax law and examining policy trade-offs and available reform options within each group’s designated area.
Garbage conversion system planned in Hawaii
By Nancy Cook Lauer, West Hawaii Today.
A company owned by garbage hauler Pacific Waste Inc. is moving forward on long-held plans to build a waste conversion system in West Hawaii.
BioEnergy Hawaii LLC announced Thursday that it is negotiating for land near the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill at Puuanahulu for a resource recovery site. The facility, planned for construction in 2016, would convert rubbish to recyclable commodities, organics and solid fuel.
The $50 million facility, which would be financed with private equity, is supported by a $100 million special purpose revenue bond issued by the State of Hawaii.
IRS Extends Safe Harbor for Completion of PTC-Qualifying Facilities to Jan. 1, 2017
By McGuireWoods LLP.
Yesterday, March 11, 2015, the Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2015-25, which extends by one year certain tests taxpayers can use to establish that a qualifying renewable energy facility is eligible for the production tax credit (PTC) or, alternatively, the investment tax credit (ITC).
Notice 2015-15 updates prior IRS guidance in response to a change made by the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, Pub. L. No. 113-295, 128 Stat. 4010 (2014 Extenders Bill). The date by which construction must have begun for a qualifying renewable energy facility to be eligible for the PTC or ITC was extended from “before January 1, 2014,” to “before January 1, 2015.”
Advanced biofuel group breaks with traditional allies on federal mandates
By Jennifer Dlouhy, Fuel Fix.
WASHINGTON — The makers of advanced biofuels created with algae, animal fat and non-edible plant materials on Wednesday broke with traditional corn-based ethanol producers to call for sweeping changes to the nation’s biofuels mandates.
The appeal, delivered by Advanced Biofuels Association President Michael McAdams in a speech Wednesday, marks a major shift in the strategy for the diverse industry supporters of the 10-year-old renewable fuel standard, who have long stuck together in lobbying Congress to maintain the mandates.
Report: PUC needs tougher rules on contact between utilities, commissioners
By Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times.
New York City is worried about engine idling, and we all can benefit. The New York City Council is introducing a bill to allow for citizens to report idling vehicles, with an important twist—citizens can split the fine with the city.
At a rally on the steps of city hall yesterday, Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal and Councilman Donovan Rochards announced this bill to greatly increase the attention by the public on this issue that is both a public nuisance and an economic drain.
Don’t miss an update—join our weekly newsletter below.