RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Here Comes The Hydrogen: $125 Million For “Transformational” Energy Includes Power-To-Gas
By Tina Casey, Clean Technica.
Fans of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in the US got a pleasant surprise yesterday, when the Department of Energy announced that a company called Dioxide Materials is getting a slice of the agency’s new $125 million round of funding for “transformational” energy projects. Among its areas of expertise, Dioxide Materials is developing a low cost system that uses renewable energy to produce hydrogen fuel from water.
The new round of $125 million in funding for 41 clean energy projects comes through the Energy Department’s ARPA-E division, known to CleanTechnica readers for its work in the exploding diaper market and many other cutting edge energy adventures.
We’re zeroing in on the $2 million award to Dioxide Materials for a couple of reasons, mainly because we’re very interested in the emergingpower-to-gas field (the gas being hydrogen gas), and partly because among all 41 awardees, the Energy Department highlighted only seven in its announcement, and Dioxide Materials is the one selected to lead off the agency’s press release.
Renewable NatGas Benefits From California Low Carbon Fuels Standard
By David Bradley, NGI's Daily Gas Price Index.
California officials are encouraging alternative fuel fleets, including those switching to renewable natural gas (RNG), to take advantage of the low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) and cap-and-trade program created under the state's 2006 climate change law (AB 32).
A state greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction fund administered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has $230 million available for low carbon transportation. The money comes from proceeds of CARB cap-and-trade auctions selling emission credits.
The program funds zero- and near-zero emission passenger vehicles rebates, heavy duty trucks/buses, freight demonstration projects and pilot programs in car sharing, financing, etc., according to state officials. Funds are also available for high-speed rail and public transit systems.
Clean Energy Investment in Emerging Markets Eclipses Activity in Rich Countries for the First Time
By Julia Pyper, Greentech Media.
Emerging economies attracted record levels of clean energy investment last year, surpassing investment in wealthier nations for the first time ever, according to a new report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF).
In 2014, the 55 developing nations studied in the Climatescope reportbrought in $126 billion in clean energy investment -- up $35.5 billion, or 39 percent, from 2013 levels.
These countries installed a total of 50.4 gigawatts of new clean energy capacity last year -- up 21 percent from 2013. In another first, renewable energy capacity deployed in emerging markets surpassed the amount deployed in wealthier OECD countries.
REMIPEG Report: Part 2: Biomass to power is on the rise globally
By Martin Kaltschmitt and Sebastian Janczik, Renewable Energy Focus.com.
The World-Market Status special report – Using a variety of technologies to convert organic matter into fuel, biomass is a widely used renewable energy source in the global market. Nevertheless, the primary markets for biomass are changing, and while transport fuels stabilise, heat and electricity are increasing.
Biomass (organic matter) can be used to provide solid, gaseous and liquid biofuels (wood logs, pellets, biomethane, bioethanol). The different types of fuels can be used to produce electricity, heat or fuels for transportation purpose. The market for biomass based heat is dominated by small scale units for providing thermal energy for cooking and for space heating from mainly solid wood fuels in developing countries. In industrialized countries, the heat market is determined by small and large scale devices mainly for room heating purpose based on woody solid biofuels; the latter is partly realized in CHP.
The markets for solid biofuels needed to operate especially small scale ovens are often characterized by informal market structures, particularly in rural areas; this is true in less developed countries as well as in industrialized nations. Therefore, the available data about the biomass-based heat provision is fragmentary and varies considerably. One estimate indicates globally a heat provision of 23.7 EJ (2014) originating from solid biofuels with a fuel energy of 59.3 EJ (2014).
Expect Ontario climate change plan details in new year: Kathleen Wynne
By CBC News.
Premier Kathleen Wynne said Ontario's long-term plans to combat climate change are "optimistic and entirely realistic" on Tuesday.
The province wants to achieve an 80-per-cent reduction in emissions over 1990 levels by 2050. Wynne said to do that, the province will work on a range of projects, from getting more electric cars on the roads to changing the building codes to create more environmentally-friendly buildings.
However, a five-year "action plan" that will outline some of the first major steps the province will take won't be released until the new year.
Cap and trade plan to reduce pollution taking shape in Salem
By Reed Andrews, KATU News.
PORTLAND, Ore. – A plan to curb carbon emissions statewide is set to be a highly contested issue between leaders in Salem.
"I think there's a growing swell of public support to take action on climate change," said Angela Crowley-Koch, legislative director with the Oregon Environmental Council.
State Sen. Chris Edwards, D-Eugene, is currently "deep in the weeds" of a cap and trade bill to cut down on pollution.
Edwards says the bill "would transform the economy." He points to the need for more renewable energy and making the state's energy grid more efficient.
Advances and Challenges for the Bioenergy Sector
By Carl Weinschenk, Energy Manager Today.
A forum on bioenergy at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in early November pointed to both good news and concerns for the sector.
The fate of an alternative to any established product or service depends on the health – economic and otherwise – of the incumbent. That is at bad news for bioenergy, at least in the short term, according to the report on the forum at Southeast Farm Press:
The biggest challenge is low oil prices which makes bioenergy less competitive. However, speakers at a forum on a biofuels and biochemicals at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park Nov. 4 stressed that demand is still strong and growing for green energy from plants and trees.
House Bill Would Advance Clean Vehicle Technologies
By David Cullen, Trucking Info.
A bill that would earmark funds for research and development of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies as well as create truck-specific programs within the Department of Energy (DOE) has been introduced in the House by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) as the Vehicle Innovation Act (VIA), H.R. 4106.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the legislation in the Senate earlier this year with cosponsors Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN). Their bill was passed by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee as part of a larger package of energy legislation.
According to the Senate and House sponsors, VIA legislation will promote investments in research and development of clean vehicle technologies to create more fuel-efficient vehicles, reduce dependence on foreign oil and support American auto manufacturers and suppliers.
Milwaukee biogas project uses hotel and casino food waste
By Recycling Today Staff.
Ten chopper pumps from Cary, North Carolina-based Landia are playing a vital role in the success of the FCPC Renewable Generation LLC’s biodigester plant in Milwaukee. Greenfire Management Servics LLC managed the development of the facility for FCPC RG LLC, which is operated under contract by Natural Systems Utilities (NSU).
Designed with an external knife system to prevent large solids from entering the casings, the Landia chopper pumps handle incoming food waste at the $18.5M biogas project, which supports the FCPC’s goal of using renewable, carbon-neutral resources to become energy self-sufficient.
Located adjacent to the FCPC’s Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in the Menomonee Valley, the plant treats up to 120,000 gallons per day of high strength wastes, producing up to 2MW of electricity (enough to power 1,500 homes). The Landia chopper pumps work 24/7 to handle a wide variety of solid and liquid waste from numerous local food and beverage manufacturers. Generating 7.7 million British thermal units per hour of heat. Excess amounts are also used to provide hot water for the two anaerobic digesters, as well as the hotel.
Pelosi urges Obama to go strong with ethanol fuel mandate
By Devin Henry, The Hill.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) is urging the White House to strengthen its ethanol mandate for gasoline ahead of an international climate change conference.
“We hope you will keep in mind the need to reduce carbon pollution, and not expand it in the transportation sector, in the days leading up to the president’s historic efforts at the upcoming [climate] conference in Paris,” Pelosi wrote in a letter to Obama’s chief climate adviser, Brian Deese, this week.
The letter -- which House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Reps. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and David Loebsack (D-Iowa) also signed -- comes as members and industry groups lobby the White House on the Renewable Fuel Standard and the level of ethanol the government will require to be blended into the gasoline supply.
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