RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Study Shows Utilities And Regulators Making Progress On Methane Leaks, But A Major Emissions Problem Remains
By Jonathan Peress, Environmental Defense Fund.
The most important takeaway from a study released today by Washington State University (WSU) is that despite improvements, large amounts of methane continue to leak from the nation's local natural gas systems. Because methane is a particularly potent greenhouse gas, these yearly emissions are comparable to the CO2 from as many as 19 coal-fired power plants.
The estimated value of the gas escaping each year, by the way, is up to $195 million.
Although these figures represent a major ongoing challenge for gas utilities, they do reflect substantial improvement over the past two decades, thanks to a combination of effort and investment by utilities, along with a series of both state and federal policy changes enacted since 1992.
Climate Change in the American Christian Mind
By School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University.
We are pleased to release the first report,"Climate Change in the American Christian Mind," from our most recent national survey of global warming opinion. Many Americans draw, at least in part, upon their religious beliefs to guide their understanding and interpretation of climate change causes, impacts, and solutions. This report examines the global warming beliefs, risk perceptions, policy preferences, and related moral values of three major groups of American Christians – Catholics, non-evangelical Protestants, and evangelicals. It also investigates how these groups currently view Pope Francis and the extent to which he is considered a trusted voice on the issue of global warming.
Illinois can set example for low-carbon future
By Bernard Weinstein, The Hill's Congress Blog.
In response to growing concerns about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, over the past decade three-fourths of the American states have adopted renewable portfolio standards or goals (RPS) for electric power generation. Also referred to as renewable electricity standards (RES), these policies require or encourage power providers to supply a designated minimum share of their electricity from resources such as wind, solar, geothermal or biomass.
At 25 percent by 2025, the state of Illinois has adopted one of the most ambitious renewable energy mandates in the country.
Ikea to launch its first biogas fuel cell system at California store in 2015
By Grainne Rothery, .
Ikea has announced plans to install a fuel cell system at one of its two San Francisco area stores.
The project at Emeryville is Ikea’s first attempt globally to convert biogas into electricity through a clean electro-chemical process. The fuel cell system will be installed, commissioned and activated by this summer, 2015.
Examining Republic’s Sustainability Goals
By Rachael Zimlich, Waste 360.
Republic Services has sets its sights high for the coming year in its annual sustainability report, which was released earlier this month. Among its goals: increasing recycling capacity; reducing vehicle emissions and expanding its landfill gas and renewable energy projects.
In the report, Phoenix-based Republic vowed to add 150,000 tons of recycling capacity annually, develop two landfill gas and renewable energy projects each year and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from collection vehicles by 3 percent by 2018.
Alternative Fuel Tax Parity Act to Fix LNG Tax Inequity Introduced in House
By Paul Kerkhoven, NGVAmerica.
On Thursday, Rep. Todd Young (R-IN), John Larson (D-CT), Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Ron Kind (D-WI) introduced the Alternative Fuel Tax Parity Act (H.R. 1665) that corrects the LNG tax disparity. Currently, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is taxed at a rate 70 percent higher than diesel fuel on an energy content basis, working against adoption of natural gas vehicles in the heavy truck market. Resetting the tax rate so that it is based on energy content rather than volume would remove an artificial barrier from the market.
ZooShare reaches $2.2 million for biogas project at Toronto Zoo
By Katie Fletcher, Biomass Magazine.
ZooShare Biogas Cooperative Inc. recently announced that it reached another milestone on its journey to implement a biogas plant at the Toronto Zoo by raising $2.2 million in community bonds, just before its goal to close bond sales on March 31. Around 300 people invested in the proposed 500-kW biogas plant, which will generate power for the Ontario grid from 3,000 tons of zoo poo and 14,000 tons of local grocery waste from a large Canadian grocery chain.
This milestone signifies the target has been reached in community bond funding, but the company is now seeking approximately $2.6 million in construction financing and $1.2 million in long-term debt, including interest during construction, reserve accounts—principal and interest, unscheduled maintenance—and working capital. In total, the capital required at the project’s commercial operation date is $6 million.
EPA rule allows timely release of cellulosic waiver credit prices
By Erin Voegele, Biomass Magazine.
The U.S. EPA has introduced rulemaking that aims to clarify the data sources and methodology used to calculate the price of cellulosic waiver credits (CWC). The rule would also amend regulations to allow CWC prices to be announced in a more timely manner and reinserts language in the renewable fuels program regulations that was inadvertently overwritten by the Quality Assurance Program final rule.
Within the rulemaking, the EPA explains that price of CWCs are determined using a formula specified in the Clean Air Act.
Nearly 8 million cellulosic RINs generated in February
By Erin Voegele, Biomass Magazine.
The U.S. EPA has published renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for February, reporting that nearly 1.25 billion RINs were generated during the month, including nearly 7.93 million cellulosic RINs.
EPA data indicates 7.93 D3 cellulosic biofuel RINs were generated in February, bringing the total for the first two months of the year to 12 million. A 76,942 error correction brings the net total for D3 RINs to 11.93 million. According to the EPA, 191,863 D3 RINs have been generated for ethanol so far this year, with 5.12 million generated for renewable compressed natural gas and 6.7 million generated for renewable liquefied natural gas. All 12 million D3 RINs have been generated by domestic producers.
Anaerobic digestion at Nestlé factory turns rejected chocolate into renewable energy
By Victoria White, New Food Magazine.
A new anaerobic digestion system at Nestlé’s factory in Fawdon is turning chocolate and sugar confectionery waste from the site’s manufacturing processes into renewable energy and clean water.
Rejected chocolates and sweets which are not suitable for sale or reprocessing, along with waste residues such as starch and sugar are broken down in to small pieces. This mixture is then partially dissolved using the waste liquids from the site’s cleaning processes to create a ‘chocolate soup’. This ‘chocolate soup’ is then fed into an airtight tank where anaerobic digestion occurs. Anaerobic digestion is the natural process of bacteria breaking down biodegradable material, such as food, without oxygen, and converting it into useful by-products. These by-products are used to meet part of the site’s energy needs.
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