RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.US Senate bill would create national renewable electricity standard
By Lydia Wheeler, The Hill.
Senate Democrats want to create a national renewable electricity standard to create jobs, save consumers money and reduce pollution.
The bill unveiled Tuesday that would require utilities to generate 30 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030, starting with an 8 percent requirement by 2016 followed by gradual increases.
2014-15-16 RFS rule under review by White House OMB
By Erin Voegele, Biomass Magazine.
The U.S. EPA’s proposed rulemaking for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 renewable fuel standard (RFS) volume requirements is officially undergoing review by the White House Office of Management and Budget, marking a final step before the rules are released for public review.
According to information published by the OMB, it received the proposed rule from the EPA on May 7. The OMB has also indicated the rulemaking is subject to a judicial deadline.
On April 10, the EPA announced its intent to release proposed rulemaking for the 2014, 2015, and 2016 RFS renewable volume requirements (RVOs), along with 2017 RVOs for renewable diesel, by June 1. Final rulemaking is scheduled to be issued by Nov. 30.
In Houston, Mike Huckabee Details Energy Plan
By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, the latest Republican to jump into the 2016 presidential race, took to Texas' oil capital Monday to flesh out his plan for making the United States less dependent on foreign sources of energy.
Huckabee laid out an eight-point strategy that he said could "completely transform the balance of world power," including lifting the United States' 40-year ban on crude-oil exports and ending what critics see as a similar, de facto prohibition on natural-gas exports. He also called for a stronger embrace of alternative sources of energy such as solar and wind power.
Guest Commentary: Colorado's other natural gas industry
By Joanna Underwood, for the Denver Post.
As prices fall, layoffs rise and controversies persist, the natural gas industry in Colorado is getting more contentious and smaller. But there is a way to renew its prospects that people on all sides of the issue should be able to agree on.
In-state gas production has fallen from its 2012 peak as key reserves like the Piceance Basin decline, with major companies pulling out or downsizing operations. Production is forecast to shrink by half a billion cubic feet daily for the next 12 to 18 months. That could mean thousands of lost jobs and slower economic growth.
There's no consensus in sight on expanding Colorado's gas production through fracking. The recommendations of Gov. John Hickenlooper's fracking task force are widely seen as insufficient to address communities' environmental and health concerns. That sets the stage for more confrontation between the gas industry vs. municipalities and environmentalists opposing fracking.
But what if the state could expand its gas production without polarizing its people, in a way that the industry and concerned citizens alike could support? It can, if we tap Colorado's organic waste stream to make renewable natural gas (RNG) fuel.
EPA Submits Renewable Fuel Volume Obligations to OMB
By Radio 570 WNAX.
The Environmental Protection Agency has sent its proposal for renewable fuel volume obligations for 2014, 2015 and 2016 to the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Once the Offfice of Management and Budget reviews the proposal it will be released for public comment.
UPS to Use Renewable Natural Gas for Part of Delivery Fleet
By Angela Chen, Wall Street Journal.
United Parcel Service Inc. agreed to use renewable natural gas from Clean Energy Fuels Corp. for some of its delivery fleet, as part of its plan to drive one billion miles using alternative fuel by the end of 2017.
Clean Energy Fuels produces a product called Redeem, which is the first renewable natural gas available in commercial quantities.
The RNG will be used in stations across California beginning this month to fuel tractors and delivery vehicles. The stations in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno will provide about 1.5 million gallon equivalents of RNG fuel to about 400 vehicles in the state.
NGVAmerica launches news website, newsletter
By Fleet Owner.
To help keep interested parties informed, NGVAmerica has launched a new news website and weekly newsletter dedicated to the natural gas vehicle (NGV) industry.
NGVAmerica News provides industry press as well as insight into NGVAmerica’s legislative, regulatory and educational efforts in Washington, D.C. and in state capitols across the country, the organization said. The NGVAmerica News website provides daily news and a free sign-up form for the weekly newsletter.
Biodiesel Board's Steckel says industry poised to handle increased RFS volume requirements
By OnPoint.
Is U.S. EPA's timeline to finalize 2014 and 2015 renewable fuel standard volume requirements by Nov. 30 fast enough to ensure market stability among biofuels stakeholders? During today's OnPoint, Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs at the National Biodiesel Board, discusses the challenges facing the industry as it awaits EPA's decision and talks about why she believes the industry can meet increased volume requirements.
Gas company officer touts biomethane research
By Fielding Buck, Press Enterprise.
Southern California Gas Co. officials visited UC Riverside on Thursday� to discuss technologies that create renewable fuels with engineering professors.
“There’s some opportunity here,” said George Minter, SoCalGas’s regional vice president for external affairs and the environment.
“You’ve got a lot of solar, you’ve got a lot of wind, you’ve got a lot of land. There’s water resources. You’ve got a great university with engineers that are already in the renewable energy business. This could be a great center for power-to-gas technology.”
Landfill gas burning project earns dividends for city, helps environment
By Algis Laukatis, Journal Star.
A landfill gas-to-energy project built by the city of Lincoln and Lincoln Electric System has helped reduce the harmful greenhouse gas methane -- and brought in some cash for the city.
The project captures landfill gas at the Bluff Road Landfill via 76 wells and then sends it through a system of pipes to nearby Terry Bundy Generating Station, where it is burned to produce electricity.Landfill gas, a byproduct of decomposing garbage, is 40 to 60 percent methane, with the remainder made up of mostly carbon dioxide.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, methane is more than 20 times more powerful as a heat-trapping gas than carbon dioxide in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. By burning landfill gas as fuel, LES is "taking a potent greenhouse gas and turning it into a less potent greenhouse gas," said Tom Davlin, manager of projects engineering for the publicly owned Lincoln Electric System.
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