RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Ryder Recognized as an Inbound Logistics Green Supply Chain Partner
Ryder System, Inc., a leader in commercial fleet management, dedicated transportation, and supply chain solutions, today announced that for the eighth consecutive year, it has been named an Inbound Logistics Green Supply Chain Partner. Inbound Logistics editors have selected 75 companies that demonstrate a deep commitment to green initiatives in transportation and supply chain sustainability for the magazine’s annual “G75” issue.
“The fact that Ryder has been named a Green Supply Chain Partner each year for the past eight years is a tremendous honor,” said Ryder President of Global Fleet Management Solutions, Dennis Cooke. “Awards like this illustrate the importance we continually place on striving to deliver excellence and innovation for our customers across North America.”
Governor Kasich Signs House Bill 390
By Jason Phillips, Clean Fuel Ohio.
Clean Fuels Ohio is proud to announce that Governor Kasich signed Ohio HB 390 into law in late June. HB 390 was legislation that was amended to include the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Conversion Program which consists of $5 million for alternative fueled vehicles. This process took more than three years and we had to face difficulties in the legislative process. Certainly, some doubted that we and our members could get this done, even prior to when the Governor signed the bill. Through developing relationships with legislators, clearly demonstrating the need for incentives for the industry and through industry support we were able to convince Ohio policy-makers to approve legislation creating a new grant program.
Iowa waste authority close to decision on allowing yard waste in landfills
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.
Dive Brief:
- Iowa's Metro Waste Authority (MWA) - an intergovernmental agency which services Polk County and 16 area cities - will decide on Wednesday whether to end the decades-old "Compost It" program for yard waste.
- The material is currently collected separately, but the MWA may begin commingling it with waste at landfills with methane-capture systems. The agency estimates this could save up to $2 million per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by cutting truck traffic for separate collections.
- While many residents are supportive, some local environmental groups are skeptical of the gas collection technology and concerned with potential methane leaks.
California Democrats Seek Support to Extend Trading Program
By Carolyn Whetzel, Bloomberg BNA.
July 18 — California's Democratic leadership is rallying climate policy supporters to press lawmakers for legislation extending the state's carbon trading program beyond 2020.
At a recent event in Sacramento, State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De León (D) urged clean energy businesses and workers to help push for a bill that ensures the cap-and-trade program and other key climate policies become permanent.
“We're going to push, push and push to make sure we can make these policies permanent and codify them into law,” De Leon said at a recent event highlighting the employment benefits of California's renewable portfolio standard.
To cut emissions, Canada could expand carbon pricing
By Jed Kim, Marketplace.
Last month, the leaders of three North American countries met for the annual so-called “Three Amigos Summit.” One of the results coming out of the summit was a pledge to reduce emissions, by promising to get at least half of the continent’s power from carbon-neutral sources by 2025.
Now, it appears Canada may be on the cusp of making a national carbon price, as Canada’s Environment Minister Catherine McKenna indicated to Bloomberg last week that the country’s upcoming emissions reduction plan would include a carbon price.
Speculation continues as to whether a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system will actually be required of every province, several of which have opposed such a plan. Andrew Light, a senior fellow at the World Resources Institute, said the minister’s statements did not clarify definitively whether a national plan will be instituted.
NextEra Energy, Hawaiian Electric announce termination of plans to merge
By Duane Shimogawa, Pacific Business News.
In the wake of a decision by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to reject the companies’ merger application, NextEra Energy Inc. (NYSE: NEE) and Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. (NYSE: HE) announced Monday the termination of their plans to merge.
Under the terms of the merger agreement, NextEra Energy will pay Hawaiian Electric Industries a $90 million breakup fee and up to $5 million for reimbursement of expenses associated with the transaction. After taxes, the net amount of $60 million will help to fund Hawaii’s clean energy transformation, including the 2016 plan to invest about $145 million into Hawaiian Electric, HEI said in a news release.
North Dakota sues over new methane rule
By Devin Henry, The Hill.
North Dakota’s attorney general has sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over new methane emission rules at oil and gas facilities.
In a filing in the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, the state said it considers the new rule “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and not in accordance with law."
The EPA's rule, part of an Obama administration strategy to reduce methane emissions, sets new standards for methane leaks related to natural gas extraction, including drilling and pumping, at new or modified gas wells. The EPA published the rule in the Federal Register in June.
Future of biogas unclear in the EU
By Oliver Ristau, Deutsche Welle.
Etienne Genin is satisfied. "We use the more renewable energy than all other company locations," said the director of the L’Oreal plant in Libramont, Belgium. The global cosmetic company produces hair coloring here for all of Europe. A half-million packages roll off the conveyor belt every day, requiring 10 million kilowatt hours of electricity – the equivalent of a city with 10,000 people.
The factory’s power is supported by three gas motors just a few hundred meters from a half-dozen fermenters where organic material is collected to rot. L’Oreal has been using biogas here for the last few years. It’s important that "only those products are used that aren’t also used in food production," Genin said. He fears that could negatively impact the French cosmetic giant’s image.
Energy in moderation at RNC
By Eric Wolff, with help from Annie Snider and Kalina Oroschakoff, Politico.
DONALD TRUMP PARTY STARTS TONIGHT, BUT LITTLE FOCUS ON ENERGY: The Republican Party's four-day coronation of Donald Trump as its presidential nominee begins tonight, and the lineup looks like it will give only a modest nod to energy and environment issues. Each night will have a theme: "Make American Safe Again" on Monday, "Make America Work Again" on Tuesday, "Make America First Again" on Wednesday, and "Make America One Again" on Thursday. Of those, Tuesday seems like the best candidate to touch on energy issues.
The schedule released Sunday separated the speakers into "headliners" and everyone else. Bakken oil magnate Harold Hamm, who is the CEO and chairman of Continental Resources, appeared on the "everyone" else list and is the most prominent member of the energy industry on the list. He was a major influence on Trump's May energy speech in North Dakota, along with Rep. Kevin Cramer, though Cramer's name isn't listed among the convention speakers.
Read more...
Hawaii Governor Signs Renewable Fuels Production Tax Credit
By National Law Review.
On July 6, 2016, Hawaii Governor David Ige signed SB 2652 Related to Taxation -- Locally Produced Renewable Energy. This bill establishes a five-year renewable fuels production tax credit.
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