RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.EPA Help on Clean Power Plan is Legal, Cruden Says
By Brian Dabbs, Bloomberg BNA.
The Environment Protection Agency's ongoing assistance to states with Clean Power Plan implementation is likely fully compliant with the law, John Cruden, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division, said Thursday.
Clean Power Plan to get unanticipated en banc review
By Jonathan Adler, Washington Post.
Monday, acting on its own initiative, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit announced that it would hear challenges to the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan sitting en banc. As per the court’s order, the challenges will be heard by the full court in September. A three-judge panel had been scheduled to hear arguments June 2.
White House OMB reviewing EPA rule to amend RFS program
By Erin Voegele, Ethanol Producer Magazine.
The U.S. EPA delivered a proposed rule to amend the renewable fuel standard (RFS) to the White House Office of Management and Budget on May 10. The rule is titled “Renewables Enhancement and Growth Support Rule.”
Information published by the EPA explains the rule aims to make numerous changes to promote the production of renewable fuels. First, it would make several changes to the RFS program, resolving outstanding issues and providing clarification on certain RFS requirements.
In addition, the rule will propose to allow for feedstocks partially converted at a facility other than a renewable fuel’s production plant to be fully converted to into finished fuel at a renewable fuel production facility. The partially converted feedstocks are referred to as biointermediate feedstocks.
EPA finalizes methane rules for new oil and gas facilities
By Gavin Bade, Utility Dive.
Dive Brief:
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday finalized rules to limit methane emissions from new and heavily modified oil and gas facilities, as well as initiating a rulemaking process for existing facilities.
- The rules are part of a push from the Obama administration to cut methane emissions 40-45% from 2012 levels by 2025. Methane is a greenhouse gas with global warming potential over 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the EPA.
- The regulations will not affect most electric utilities directly, though some have invested in natural gas production and transport. They are likely to have an impact on the price of natural gas, the nation's single largest generation fuel.
Potrero Hills Landfill begins conversion of landfill gas to bioenergy in California
By Bioenergy Insight Magazine.
Potrero Hills Energy Producers, a partnership between DTE Biomass Energy and Pacolet Milliken Enterprises, has started generating electricity from landfill gas.
This clean source of electricity comes from a newly constructed renewable energy facility at the Potrero Hills Landfill in Suisun City, California.
DTE Biomass Energy, the developer and operator of the project, declared commercial operation of the 8MW facility at the landfill, which is operated by Waste Connections, bases in The Woodlands, Texas.
Renovare EIS looks to fill renewable gap
By Scott Longley, Professional Adviser.
Renovare Fuels is hoping to raise £1.76m from investors to fund its push to provide patent-pending technology to landfill operators that can convert landfill gas into diesel and gasoline. The technology allows for the displacement of large volumes of CO2 and, as a result, will be eligible for Kyoto Protocol Standard Greenhouse Gas Credits.
The company has advanced assurance from HMRC that it is an Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) qualifying investment. The technology can convert gas to commercial-grade liquid fuel profitably, without the need for government subsidies. It also meets government criteria for processing new waste and turning it into a valuable commodity via anaerobic digestion.
SLC mayor wants city running on clean energy by 2032
By Ben Winslow, KSTU.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Mayor Jackie Biskupski made an ambitious announcement on Tuesday, a plan to put all city buildings, street lights and even the Salt Lake International Airport on clean energy by 2032.
At a news conference Tuesday, the mayor said she wanted 50-percent of municipal operations powered by renewable energy by 2020. To accomplish it, Biskupski announced the city would be buying into Rocky Mountain Power's new "Subscriber Solar" program.
"Salt Lake City has committed to purchasing three megawatts of clean solar power through the new solar subscription program," she said. "This commitment is the equivalent of 9,000 solar panels."
States with RPS laws are doubling down, while those without take little interest. Maryland could help explain why.
By Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive.
curious trend is emerging when it comes to renewable energy mandates: Many states that have them are doubling down, while those that don’t are showing little interest at all.
Since 2009, only Vermont has enacted a new renewable portfolio standard (RPS), yet five states with an RPS on the books strengthened them in the last two years alone.
The discrepancy has more to it than a simple increase in political polarization. While that’s apparent across the nation, the debate behind Maryland’s recent decision to strengthen its renewable energy standards shows there’s more to the recent trend than ideology alone.
San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco pledge to go with 100% renewable energy
By Lucas Mearian, Computerworld.
Last year, San Diego's city council voted to commit the city to using 100% renewable energy by 2035.
Last week, San Diego reiterated its pledge to renewable energy and other sustainable strategies, such as eliminating half of all greenhouse gas production, in a Climate Action Plan memorandum.
While the city's plan is still in its nascent stages, San Diego's news sparked articles by a dozen or so publications because it is the largest city to commit to an all-renewable power grid.
Corporate, Public Sectors Supporting RNG & Other Alternative Transportation Fuels
By Richard Nemec,
Corporate and government sector policymakers are gravitating toward increased use of alternative transportation fuels, including natural gas and renewable natural gas (RNG). The CEO of the nation's largest gas utility said that in the years ahead all of the alternatives from electric vehicles (EV) to fuel cell technology will be needed.
Those were the highlights of the final day of the four-day Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach, CA. A heightened role for RNG in the natural gas vehicle (NGV) sector was promoted during the event, as was a "Sustainable Freight Transportation Initiative" that was released by a group of California agencies as a blueprint for the state to transition to zero- and near-zero-emission technologies for moving goods.
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