RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.NYC's Organics Recycling Proposal Opens the Door for Renewable Natural Gas
By Matt Tomich, Energy-Vision.
The national environmental non-profit Energy Vision (EV) welcomed the de Blasio administration’s announcement today of a proposal requiring the City’s largest commercial generators of organic waste to source separate it so it can be collected. The program would divert from landfills and recycle an estimated 50,000 tons of organic waste each year.
The proposed regulation is a step toward the City’s “Zero Waste” program’s goal of collecting and recycling 90% the City’s organic waste by 2030. It’s also a potential source of feedstocks for New York’s emerging renewable natural gas (RNG) industry, which makes the lowest carbon fuel available today from organic waste.
New York State Cleans Up
By RenewsBiz.
New York State plans to reach new aggressive clean energy targets by 2030. According to the 2015 New York State Energy Plan finalised last week, the state will generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources, decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 40% and reduce energy consumption in buildings by 23%.
“These targets put the state on a path to achieve its longer-term goal of decreasing carbon emissions 80% by 2050,” said a spokesperson from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Oregon deal to swap LCFS for gas tax is dead
By Bill Peters, Argus Media.
A proposal to swap Oregon's low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) for an increase in the state's gasoline tax is dead for the current legislative session, governor Kate Brown (D) said yesterday.
"Given the complexity of the issues and the remaining time available, there simply is not a path forward through both chambers for a proposal that accomplishes both this session," Brown said, adding that the idea of paying for the state's transportation infrastructure and reducing greenhouse gas emissions "should be decoupled and considered separately." This would avoid the " ‘my way, or no highway' situation in which we now find ourselves," she said.
The legislative package Brown negotiated with eight lawmakers has received withering criticism from environmental groups in recent days, and at a Senate hearing yesterday where its projected emissions reductions were called into question.
Talen Energy Announces Agreement to Sell Renewable Energy Business
By Talen Energy.
Talen Energy announced Friday (6/26) an agreement to sell Talen Renewable Energy, LLC to funds managed by California-based Energy Power Partners.
The sale will include 25 projects in four states with a total of 65 megawatts of nameplate generating capacity. The portfolio includes landfill gas-to-energy, solar, wind and cogeneration projects. Subject to regulatory approvals, the agreement is expected to close by the end of the year.
Talen Energy (NYSE:TLN) is one of the largest competitive energy and power generation companies in the United States, with a diverse generating fleet that operates in well-developed, structured wholesale power markets.
Bill aims to extend master limited partnerships to renewables
By Erin Voegele, Biomass Magazine.
U.S. Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Reps. Ted Poe, R-Texas, and Mike Thompson, D-Calif., have announced the reintroduction of the Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act. The legislation aims to level the energy playing field by giving investors in renewable energy access to a corporate tax structure currently only available to investors in fossil-based energy projects. According to information released by Coon’s office, the bill would unleash significant private capital by helping additional energy-generation and renewable fuel companies form master limited partnerships, which combine the funding advantages of corporations and the tax advantages of partnerships.
A master limited partnership is a business structure that is taxed as a partnership, but whose ownership interests are traded like corporate stock on a market. By statute, MLPs have only been available to investors in energy portfolios for oil, natural gas, coal extraction and pipeline projects. According to the senators and representatives, these projects get access to capital at a lower cost and are more liquid than traditional financing approaches to energy projects, making them highly effective at attracting private investment. Investors in renewable energy projects, however, have been explicitly prevented from forming MLPs, starving a fast growing portion of America’s domestic energy sector of the capital it needs to build and grow.
North American Repower and Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. to Deliver First PHEV-RNG Armored Truck
By Kristal Ferchau (EDI), for BusinessWire.
Two global leaders in developing and manufacturing advanced transportation vehicles have teamed up to manufacture a first-of-its-kind fleet of Class-5 armored vehicles that combine the benefits of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and zero emission Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) technology.
North American Repower—California’s leading natural gas engine management and conversion technology company— and Efficient Drivetrains, Inc.—a global leader in developing high-efficiency Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle solution—will convert a fleet of six 26,000 pound, Class-5 medium-duty armored vehicles operated by Sectran Security into PHEV vehicles that run on electricity and renewable natural gas—known as “Zero Emission with Range Extension” vehicles. The collaboration supports the dramatic acceleration in California toward a zero emissions environment.
Thursday, June 25: EPA to Hold Public Hearing in Kansas City, Kan., on Proposed Rule for Renewable Fuel Standards
By US EPA.
On Thursday, June 25, EPA will hold a national public hearing in Kansas City, Kan., to receive comments on the Agency’s proposed rule, “Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2014, 2015, and 2016 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2017.”
EPA is responsible for developing and implementing regulations to ensure that transportation fuel sold in the United States contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program regulations were developed in collaboration with refiners, renewable fuel producers, and many other stakeholders.
EPA is proposing the volume requirements and associated percentage standards that would apply under the RFS program in calendar years 2014, 2015, and 2016 for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel. EPA is also proposing the volume requirement for biomass-based diesel for 2017.
The upcoming public hearing will provide interested parties the opportunity to present data, views, or arguments concerning the proposal, which is available online.
EPA: More than 9.5 million cellulosic RINs generated in May
By Erin Voegele, Ethanol Producer Magazine.
The U.S. EPA has released renewable identification number (RIN) generation data for May, reporting that nearly 1.5 billion RINs were generated during the month, including more than 9.51 million cellulosic RINs. According to EPA data, D7 cellulosic RINs were generated for the first time since October.
Nearly 9.34 million D3 cellulosic biofuel RINs were generated in May, bringing the net total for the first five months of the year to 36.9 million. Approximately 688,940 D3 RINs were generated for ethanol, with 19.34 million generated for renewable compressed natural gas and 16.98 million for renewable liquefied natural gas. To date, all D3 RINs generated this year have been generated by domestic producers.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige to highlight Hawaii's renewable-energy efforts at D.C. forum
By Duane Shimogawa, Pacific Business News.
Hawaii Gov. David Ige will join other elected officials and business leaders for The Washington Post’s “Powering Cities” forum on Tuesday, where he will talk about the state’s recent commitment to achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2045.
Ige signed Act 97 into law, making Hawaii the first state in the nation to set a 100 percent renewable portfolio standard for the electricity sector.
Air Liquide starts up largest investment in Saudi Arabia to supply hydrogen to the YASREF refinery
By Stuart Radnedge, GasWorld.
Air Liquide announces the start-up of its global-scale hydrogen production site in Yanbu Industrial City, on the West coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Announced in 2010, this investment of more than €350m represents both the largest industrial investment and largest “over the fence” hydrogen contract of the group.
In the context of a long-term agreement, Air Liquide Arabia will supply hydrogen to the new YASREF refinery (a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Sinopec) located in Yanbu, one of the main industrial areas of the country and a high growth area for refining and petrochemicals. YASREF is the largest refinery in the region and will process 400,000 barrels of heavy crude oil per day. Hydrogen will allow the reduction of the sulfur content of the produced fuels, and meet the environmental standards for cleaner transportation fuels.
Don’t miss an update—join our weekly newsletter below.