RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Strengthening The RFS For Next-Gen Biofuels
By Michael McAdams, Biomass Magazine.
There has been a great deal of conversation around the speech I recently gave at the Advanced Biofuels Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. I would like to further explain some of the key areas of my remarks in today’s column.
As I stated, members of the Advanced Biofuels Association are facing incredible challenges, including diminishing capital markets, an uncertain tax code, and a patch quilt of state laws and federal regulations. Unfortunately, the renewable fuel standard (RFS)—the very tool that was created to foster our industry—has become one of the greatest obstacles to continued development of the advanced and cellulosic biofuel industry due to inconsistent and poor implementation. This is clearly evident as we are now well into 2015 and still waiting for the administration to publish the renewable volume obligations for 2014. Yes, you have it right, they were due Nov. 30, 2013.
Tax Policy Update
By McGuireWoods.
NUMBER OF THE WEEK: $9.6 Billion. The total amount that the federal government could save over 10 years under the PTC Elimination Act (H.R. 1901) – a bill that would phase out and repeal the renewable energy production tax credit. In addition to reducing the credit by as much as 35 percent, the bill outlines a special rule to clarify the “beginning of construction” definition, requiring qualified construction to be “continuous, significant, and finite.” The bill introduced by Congressmen Kenny Marchant (R-TX) and Mike Pompeo (R-KS) would also completely repeal the PTC after Dec 31, 2025. “The PTC Elimination Act may only be one piece of the effort to fix our broken tax code […]. That’s the approach to tax simplification we must use to revitalize the American Economy,” Marchant said.
City Of Palo Alto Issues RFP
By North American Windpower.
The City of Palo Alto, Calif., is seeking renewable resources to meet its 33% by 2015 renewable portfolio standard (RPS).
Per its request for proposal (RFP), Palo Alto seeks to contract for power for terms ranging from five to 30 years from any resource that meets the California Energy Commission's RPS eligibility criteria. Palo Alto notes that it has a "strong preference" for proposals that would qualify as portfolio content category.
Tetra Tech to Acquire Cornerstone Environmental Group
By Business Wire.
Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cornerstone Environmental Group of Middletown, New York and anticipates closing this transaction in May 2015. Cornerstone is an environmental engineering and consulting firm focused on solid waste markets in the United States. The company has more than 160 employees and approximately $30 million in annual revenue.
“Utilities are faced with the challenge of responding to new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations related to coal combustion residuals disposal requirements,” said Dan Batrack, Tetra Tech’s Chairman and CEO.
PUD can sell landfill gas
By the Goldendale Sentinel.
Klickitat PUD and the Washington Public Utility Districts Association are welcoming a bill signed by Gov. Jay Inslee that paves the way for public utility districts to produce and sell renewable transportation fuel, adding value to PUD projects and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The primary sponsor of Senate Bill 5424 was Senator Curtis King whose District (14th) includes Klickitat County, the location of Klickitat PUD's HW Hill landfill gas to energy project that uses landfill gas from the Roosevelt Regional Landfill to generate renewable electricity.
New Renewable Energy Project at Sunshine Canyon Landfill Capable of Powering Nearly 25,000 Los Angeles Area Homes
By Republic Services.
Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) announced today a new landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) project located at Sunshine Canyon Landfill near Los Angeles. The 20-megawatt renewable energy project is capable of generating enough electricity to power nearly 25,000 area homes.
"Landfills play a more consequential role in society now than ever before," said Ron Krall, area president of Republic Services. "Today's landfill must be sophisticated, and leverage the power of science and engineering to help regenerate the local ecosystem. Sunshine Canyon Landfill has enabled growth in Los Angeles for decades, and now it will be there to help a great community achieve its sustainability goals."
Republic Services partnered with Sunshine Gas Producers, a joint venture between DTE Biomass Energy and Aria Energy, to develop the Sunshine Canyon LFGTE project.
"This partnership is another example of how technology and simple, hard work can result in a project that's good for the environment and the local community," said Mark Cousino, president of DTE Biomass Energy. "It has been a pleasure working with Republic and Aria Energy to deliver California's newest renewable energy facility."
Grassley, Bipartisan Group of Senators Call for Strong Renewable Fuel Standard
By Senator Grassley.
As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works toward finalizing its proposed rule on biofuels volume requirements for 2014 and subsequent years under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Thune (R-SD), Al Franken (D-MN), and Mark Kirk (R-IL) are leading a bipartisan group of 37 senators in calling for a strong RFS. The EPA’s latest proposal would create uncertainty for ethanol and biodiesel producers and undermine job creation. In a letter to the EPA, the senators urged the agency to reverse course from the 2014 proposed rule and maintain a strong RFS to drive innovation and growth in America’s economy while helping reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
“The RFS has already proven to be an effective driver of alternative fuels and economic development,” the senators wrote. “It has strengthened agriculture markets and created hundreds of thousands of jobs in the new energy economy, many of which are in rural areas. The biofuels volume requirements for 2014 and beyond have serious implications for our economy and energy security. We encourage you to ensure a final proposal continues to work toward achieving the RFS’s long-term economic and renewable energy goals.”
Charlie Baker joins N.E. govs in energy action plan
By Marie Szaniszlo, the Boston Herald.
New England’s governors yesterday agreed to a mix of regional and state steps — from increased natural gas capacity to renewable energy such as solar and wind power — to help reduce energy costs.
In one joint effort, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut are seeking power purchase agreements for hydropower or other types of renewable energy.
Gov. Charlie Baker said he supports the carbon emission reduction goals developed under former Gov. Deval Patrick, despite his support for increased natural gas capacity.
$38 Billion in capital spending needed to reach Hawaii's original renewable energy goals
By Duane Shimogawa, Pacific Business News.
It will take upwards of $38 billion in capital spending on renewable-energy and energy efficiency technologies to meet Hawaii’s original clean-energy goals, the head of the state’s Energy Office told PBN.
Mark Glick, administrator of the state Energy Office, credited a third-party analysis prepared for the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative for that big figure.
He told PBN that now that the state is committed to even higher renewable energy goals, it is imperative that it attracts the investment needed to fund its clean-energy transformation.
Perdue joins Clean Bay Biogas Project
By Erica Shaffer, the Meat + Poultry.
Perdue Farms will supply poultry waste to run an anaerobic digester system as part of a project to develop biogas while reducing levels of nitrogen and phosphorous in Maryland.
The Clean Bay Project features a large complete mix, co-digestion anaerobic digester system to be installed on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Hampton, New Hampshire-based AgEnergy USA will build the digester; Perdue will supply all of the feedstock including poultry waste and other organic materials. The facility is expected to process up to 200,000 tons of poultry waste per year.
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