RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Ruling on California cap-and-trade auctions expected by late April
By Jon Campisi, Northern California Record.
During the past four years, more than $4 billion from greenhouse gas emission credits that are auctioned off through the state’s cap-and-trade program have poured into California’s general fund.
The money, which is paid for by businesses seeking to emit more pollution into the atmosphere than is allowed through state caps, has become somewhat controversial, given the way it is collected from industry.
By late April, California’s Third District Court of Appeal is expected to rule whether the auction scheme constitutes illegal taxes or regulatory fees, a question raised in litigation challenging the auctions.
By Jon Campisi, Northern California Record.
During the past four years, more than $4 billion from greenhouse gas emission credits that are auctioned off through the state’s cap-and-trade program have poured into California’s general fund.
The money, which is paid for by businesses seeking to emit more pollution into the atmosphere than is allowed through state caps, has become somewhat controversial, given the way it is collected from industry.
By late April, California’s Third District Court of Appeal is expected to rule whether the auction scheme constitutes illegal taxes or regulatory fees, a question raised in litigation challenging the auctions.
Cap and trade began in California in 2013. It was born out of a law, AB 32, which was enacted by the state legislature in 2006 as a way to help control greenhouse gas emissions.
The way the program works is that companies receive an allowance for each ton of greenhouse gases they emit, and if they seek to go above that cap, they are able to purchase additional allowances from other companies—hence "cap and trade."
The additional allowances, or credits, are obtained through state auctions.
One of the legal arguments made by those challenging the auctions is that business owners are essentially paying a new tax through the program, something that would require a two-thirds supermajority of the legislature for passage.
California Looks To Jet Fuel To Further Reduce Emissions
By Sally Schilling, Capital Public Radio.
In light of its lofty greenhouse gas reduction goals, California is now turning to jet fuels as another area where it can curb emissions.
California's Air Resources Board is looking at how to encourage production of cleaner jet fuels under the state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, which aims to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels. The board is considering giving credits to alternative jet fuel producers.
IKEA fires up fifth biogas fuel cell
By Anna Simet, Biomass Magazine.
Swedish home furnishing retailer IKEA has finished installing its fifth biogas-powered fuel cell system among its fleet of California stores, the company announced March 16.
St. Cloud water resource recovery facility progresses with renewable energy
By Associated Press, via The Washington Times.
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) - The city of St. Cloud has launched a project to use renewable energy to power its sprawling wastewater treatment plant.
Clean Energy Resource Teams government outreach coordinator Peter Lindstrom said that other cities are paying attention to St. Cloud’s cutting-edge methane recapture project, Minnesota Public Radio reported.
McGuire Woods lands top House Republican tax aide
By Megan R. Wilson, The Hill.
Harold Hancock, the top tax counsel to the House Ways and Means Committee, has joined law and lobby firm McGuireWoods, the firm told The Hill.
In the new position, as a partner at the firm, Hancock stands to play an important role as tax reform moves through Capitol Hill this year.
By Megan R. Wilson, The Hill.
Harold Hancock, the top tax counsel to the House Ways and Means Committee, has joined law and lobby firm McGuireWoods, the firm told The Hill.
In the new position, as a partner at the firm, Hancock stands to play an important role as tax reform moves through Capitol Hill this year.
He has spent the last six years on the tax-writing panel, serving under three chairmen: former Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), now-Speaker Paul Ryan(R-Wis.) and the committee’s current leader, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas).
Congress is working on advancing comprehensive tax reform, and leadership both in the White House and in the Capitol have a goal of completing it by the end of the year.
“It very much is a workable goal,” Hancock told The Hill of the year-end target. “Members need to make final decisions on what this plan will look like, and [congressional] staff is preparing every possible option for them.”
“As a staffer, your job is to write them with every possible option to make it workable,” he added.
The Ways and Means Committee has been taking the lead on tax reform and is working on legislation based off a "blueprint" on tax reform House Republicans released last year. The blueprint would lower the top individual tax rate to 33 percent and the corporate tax rate to 20 percent.
California bill seeks to extend cap-and-trade program
By Peter Maloney, Utility Dive.
A bill introduced in the California legislation would extend the state’s greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade program.
The bill would no longer limit the applicability of the GHG cap-and-trade program to an end date of Dec. 31, 2020.
- The bill, AB 151, aims to support the state law that requires GHG emissions to be cut by at least 40% below 1990’s level by 2030.
Trump to Announce Plans to Reverse Obama’s Climate Change Legacy
By Coral Davenport, The New York Times.
WASHINGTON — President Trump is poised in the coming days to announce his plans to dismantle the centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s climate change legacy, while also gutting several smaller but significant policies aimed at curbing global warming.
The moves are intended to send an unmistakable signal to the nation and the world that Mr. Trump intends to follow through on his campaign vows to rip apart every element of what the president has called Mr. Obama’s “stupid” policies to address climate change. The timing and exact form of the announcement remain unsettled, however.
By Coral Davenport, The New York Times.
WASHINGTON — President Trump is poised in the coming days to announce his plans to dismantle the centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s climate change legacy, while also gutting several smaller but significant policies aimed at curbing global warming.
The moves are intended to send an unmistakable signal to the nation and the world that Mr. Trump intends to follow through on his campaign vows to rip apart every element of what the president has called Mr. Obama’s “stupid” policies to address climate change. The timing and exact form of the announcement remain unsettled, however.
The executive actions will follow the White House’s release last week of a proposed budget that would eliminate climate change research and prevention programs across the federal government and slash the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget by 31 percent, more than any other agency. Mr. Trump also announced last week that he had ordered Scott Pruitt, the E.P.A. administrator, to revise the agency’s stringent standards on planet-warming tailpipe pollution from vehicles, another of Mr. Obama’s key climate change policies.
While the White House is not expected to explicitly say the United States is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, and people familiar with the White House deliberations say Mr. Trump has not decided whether to do so, the policy reversals would make it virtually impossible to meet the emissions reduction goals set by the Obama administration under the international agreement.
Idaho solid waste district approves plans for gas-to-energy facility at landfill
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.
Dive Brief:
- The Southern Idaho Solid Waste District has announced plans for a $7.8 million gas-to-energy project at the Milner Butte Landfill in the city of Burley, as reported by the Times-News.
- The site receives 800 to 900 tons of waste per day from surrounding municipalities. Two 1.3 megawatt generators will be installed to start, followed by a third within the next five years, to potentially generate enough electricity for up to 5,000 homes.
- Officials estimate that the system will generate $31 million in revenue over the course of its 20-year energy purchase contract. This will leave the district with an estimated $7 million to $8 million in revenue.
Group of 23 Senators urge Trump to maintain RFS point of obligation
By Ethanol Producer Magazine.
Nearly two dozen U.S. senators have signed a letter advising President Trump not to change the federal biofuels program's longtime compliance protocol.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., today led 23 senators in a bipartisan letter urging President Trump to maintain the Renewable Fuels Standard’s point of obligation and reject proposed changes that, they say, would upend the current system.
By Ethanol Producer Magazine.
Nearly two dozen U.S. senators have signed a letter advising President Trump not to change the federal biofuels program's longtime compliance protocol.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., today led 23 senators in a bipartisan letter urging President Trump to maintain the Renewable Fuels Standard’s point of obligation and reject proposed changes that, they say, would upend the current system.
“We believe such changes are unwarranted and indefensible,” the senators wrote to Trump. “We appreciate the commitment you have made to support the RFS. We strongly urge you to steer clear of administrative changes to the policy that would undermine the program and run contrary to your goals of promoting domestic energy independence and more choices at the pump. We look forward to working with you to ensure the RFS continues to provide the stability and predictability that is creating jobs and economic growth across the country.”
The senators outlined the detrimental effects of changing the point of obligation from refiners to blenders, marketers or retailers, as one prominent refiner is suggesting. The letter said shifting the point of obligation would give refiners little incentive to produce necessary fuel blends, making it difficult for downstream entities to comply.
UPS Invests More Than $90 Million In Natural Gas Vehicles And Infrastructure
US 03/15/17
Atlanta, GA
Building Six New CNG Fueling Stations and Adding Nearly 450 Alternative Fuel Vehicles
UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced plans to build an additional six compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations and add 390 new CNG tractors and terminal trucks and 50 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles to its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. UPS further cements its leadership in the alternative fuel market while continuing to reduce its environmental footprint with this more than $90 million investment in natural gas.
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