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Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.900 Chicago government buildings to switch to renewable energy
By Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun Times.
More than 900 government buildings in Chicago will shift their electricity use to “100 percent renewable energy” by 2025 under an ambitious mayoral plan that contrasts sharply with President Donald Trump’s retreat on environmental issues.
Together, Chicago Public Schools, City Colleges, Chicago Park District fieldhouses and buildings owned by the city and the Chicago Housing Authority consume 8 percent of all the electricity used in Chicago, according to city officials.
By Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun Times.
More than 900 government buildings in Chicago will shift their electricity use to “100 percent renewable energy” by 2025 under an ambitious mayoral plan that contrasts sharply with President Donald Trump’s retreat on environmental issues.
Together, Chicago Public Schools, City Colleges, Chicago Park District fieldhouses and buildings owned by the city and the Chicago Housing Authority consume 8 percent of all the electricity used in Chicago, according to city officials.
Last year, that amounted to nearly 1.8 billion kilowatt hours — enough to power 295,000 Chicago homes. It would take more than 300 wind turbines to generate that amount of power.
Now, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is promising to make the switch to all renewable energy, though he isn’t saying how much he’s prepared to spend to make that happen.
The 900 government buildings will accomplish the shift through a variety of strategies. They include: purchasing “renewable energy credits” by going out to the market to buy a megawatt of solar or wind power; buying utility-supplied renewable energy through the Illinois Renewable Portfolio Standard; and by installing solar panels or windmills on city buildings and public property.
Portland commits to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050
By Anmar Frangoul, CNBC News.
Leaders from the City of Portland and Multnomah County have committed to 100 percent clean energy by the year 2050.
In an announcement earlier this week, authorities said that their goal was to meet the community's electricity needs with renewables by the year 2035 and to move all remaining energy sources to renewable ones by 2050.
By Anmar Frangoul, CNBC News.
Leaders from the City of Portland and Multnomah County have committed to 100 percent clean energy by the year 2050.
In an announcement earlier this week, authorities said that their goal was to meet the community's electricity needs with renewables by the year 2035 and to move all remaining energy sources to renewable ones by 2050.
"Getting our community to 100 percent renewable energy is a big goal,'' Ted Wheeler, City of Portland Mayor, said in a statement.
"And while it is absolutely ambitious, it is a goal that we share with Nike, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Google, GM, Coca Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and Walmart. We have a responsibility to lead this effort in Oregon.''
Multnomah County is the most populous county in Oregon. Its Chair, Deborah Kafoury, welcomed the news. "This is a pledge to our children's future,'' she said. "100 percent renewables means a future with cleaner air, a stable climate and more jobs and economic opportunity.''
Bill to Promote Methane from Dairy Cows Considered by Connecticut Senate
By Cheryl Kaftan, Energy Manager Today.
Manure happens, and a bill (SB-999) just approved by the Environment Committee of the Connecticut Senate could help turn “cow patties” into a source of renewable energy on dairy farms in the Constitution State, according to an April 7 report by the Public News Service.
There are 111 registered dairy farms in the state. The so-called “Cow Power” bill, sponsored by state Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-District 12), would create pilot projects on three of those farms, using anaerobic digesters, a type of composter, to collect methane from decomposing cow manure and convert it into bio-gas.
By Cheryl Kaftan, Energy Manager Today.
Manure happens, and a bill (SB-999) just approved by the Environment Committee of the Connecticut Senate could help turn “cow patties” into a source of renewable energy on dairy farms in the Constitution State, according to an April 7 report by the Public News Service.
There are 111 registered dairy farms in the state. The so-called “Cow Power” bill, sponsored by state Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-District 12), would create pilot projects on three of those farms, using anaerobic digesters, a type of composter, to collect methane from decomposing cow manure and convert it into bio-gas.
“The goal is to deal with the problem of animal waste running into our rivers and streams, and ultimately, Long Island Sound,” Kennedy added in an interview with the Public News Service. “And secondly, it provides an important new source of revenue for farmers.”
The bill also would create an easier, cheaper, and faster state and local permitting process for farmers who are interested in adopting this technology, based on an April 4 report by Branford Seven.
“‘Cow Power’ is a term for the conversion of cow manure into electricity, enabling farmers to make money by adding a new, desperately-needed source of farm revenue,” said Kennedy told the Branford, Connecticut, news outlet. “Instead of storing tons of manure in open cesspools that contaminate the water supply and release tons of climate-destroying methane into the atmosphere, farmers can place the animal waste in an anaerobic digester located on their property.”
Farmers could sell the gas or electricity produced by burning the gas to utility companies. What’s more, Kennedy points out that processing cow manure on the farm would have an additional environmental benefit.
Climate Scientist James Hansen Likes a GOP Proposal on Global Warming
By Annie Sneed, Scientific American.
Pres. Donald Trump issued a major executive order last week that, if successful, could undercut the nation’s fight against global warming. In particular, the order kicks off an attempt to dismantle the Clean Power Plan, which regulates carbon emissions from the power sector. While Trump’s move represents a big blow to U.S. climate efforts, the renowned scientist James Hansen sees a different—and, he argues, better—way forward on global warming. “The problem is the Clean Power Plan is really not that effective,” says Hansen, former director of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, who brought climate change to the U.S. public’s attention in his famed 1988 congressional testimony. “It’s a tragedy that [the Obama administration] continued to pursue a regulatory approach.”
By Annie Sneed, Scientific American.
Pres. Donald Trump issued a major executive order last week that, if successful, could undercut the nation’s fight against global warming. In particular, the order kicks off an attempt to dismantle the Clean Power Plan, which regulates carbon emissions from the power sector. While Trump’s move represents a big blow to U.S. climate efforts, the renowned scientist James Hansen sees a different—and, he argues, better—way forward on global warming. “The problem is the Clean Power Plan is really not that effective,” says Hansen, former director of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, who brought climate change to the U.S. public’s attention in his famed 1988 congressional testimony. “It’s a tragedy that [the Obama administration] continued to pursue a regulatory approach.”
The solution Hansen believes will work best is one recently advocated by a group of Republican statesmen: a “carbon fee and dividend.” Although it is not a tax, the approach would put a price on carbon—a step Hansen thinks is absolutely essential for cutting back greenhouse gas emissions. Hansen, who has been called the father of climate change awareness, recently spoke about the issue along with Earth Institute director Jeffrey Sachs, a leading expert on economic development, at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. Scientific American followed up with Hansen, also director of the Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions program at Columbia, to discuss this strategy and how he thinks it will help the U.S. turn the tide on global warming.
RFS: New Revenue Stream for Biomass Facilities?
By Bob Cleaves, Biomass Magazine.
Many in the renewable fuels sector are familiar with the Renewable Fuel Standard, known as the RFS, adopted by Congress in 2005 and implemented by the U.S. EPA. The intent of the law is to incentivize the production and use of renewable fuels alongside traditional fossil fuels. The most famous example of this is corn ethanol, which is mandated by the RFS to be 10 percent of the gasoline blend sold at the pump.
By Bob Cleaves, Biomass Magazine.
Many in the renewable fuels sector are familiar with the Renewable Fuel Standard, known as the RFS, adopted by Congress in 2005 and implemented by the U.S. EPA. The intent of the law is to incentivize the production and use of renewable fuels alongside traditional fossil fuels. The most famous example of this is corn ethanol, which is mandated by the RFS to be 10 percent of the gasoline blend sold at the pump.
Unbeknownst to many in the biomass power sector, there may be a role for biomass power producers to play in the RFS. Electric vehicles (EVs) represent an increasing share of the automotive market, with sales rising 37 percent in 2016 over the previous year. Bloomberg New Energy Finance projects that this trend will continue—in 2040, EVs will account for 35 percent of all new vehicles sold. But the only way that electric vehicles are truly carbon friendly is if their power comes from a nonfossil fuel source. If EVs are powered by electricity produced from a biomass—the same ingredients that go into liquid transportation fuels—shouldn’t those biomass facilities be eligible to sell the same credits awarded to, for example, ethanol producers?
Natural gas from expanded Roseville sewer plant to help fuel city vehicles
By Walter Ko, The Sacramento Bee.
Roseville City Council members voted unanimously Wednesday night to expand the city’s sewer plant and build facilities that recover energy from waste, including natural gas to power city garbage trucks.
“It provides us an opportunity to be innovative with this construction,” said Councilman Scott Alvord, who lives near the treatment plant. “The nice thing about it is that the project will cut down on odor and fuel city vehicles with recovered gas.”
Ethanol polls show strong RFS support, refuting API ‘push poll’
By Susanne Retka Schill, Ethanol Producer Magazine.
Ethanol advocates were quick to counter the most recent poll from the American Petroleum Institute with their own. The API poll released April 7 shows “consumers are concerned the Renewable Fuel Standard could hurt their pocketbooks,” according to the API news release.
“Sixty-eight percent of registered voters are concerned about the government requiring increased amounts of ethanol in gasoline and 74 percent agree that federal regulations could contribute to increased costs at the pump,” said API downstream group director Frank Macchiarola. “Consumers have spoken loud and clear. The results of a new national API poll on the ethanol mandate send another strong signal to policymakers that RFS reform is desperately needed.”
By Susanne Retka Schill, Ethanol Producer Magazine.
Ethanol advocates were quick to counter the most recent poll from the American Petroleum Institute with their own. The API poll released April 7 shows “consumers are concerned the Renewable Fuel Standard could hurt their pocketbooks,” according to the API news release.
“Sixty-eight percent of registered voters are concerned about the government requiring increased amounts of ethanol in gasoline and 74 percent agree that federal regulations could contribute to increased costs at the pump,” said API downstream group director Frank Macchiarola. “Consumers have spoken loud and clear. The results of a new national API poll on the ethanol mandate send another strong signal to policymakers that RFS reform is desperately needed.”
API further said 70 percent of voters think the use of more corn for ethanol could increase food prices; 59 percent oppose moving the point of obligation and just 20 percent support the change; and 75 percent are concerned about government requirements that could breach the blend wall.
The Renewable Fuels Association called the API poll a push poll where questions are framed to be biased against the biofuels program. The RFA countered with the results of its own survey conducted by Morning Consult at about the same time as Harris Poll conducted the API survey. The RFA’s survey found that 58 percent of those polled support the RFS, with only 17 percent opposed – a more than 3:1 margin of support for the RFS.
Florida County issues RFQ for landfill gas project
By Waste Today.
County, Florida, about a request for qualifications (RFQ).
Hillsborough County is seeking a qualified firm for the development of a landfill gas (LFG) beneficial use project at its Southeast County Landfill.
CKNW Energy Series: Phasing out non-renewable natural gas
By Janet Brown, CKNW News.
Today on CKNW‘s Energy Series, Janet Brown and Jon Hall look into the City of Vancouver’s adoption of the ‘Zero Emissions Building Plan’ and one of its various steps to reduce emissions in new buildings by 2030: eliminating non-renewable natural gas.
Doug Smith is a director of sustainability for the City of Vancouver, and he says the idea isn’t exactly that simple.
“It is not the goal, necessarily, to eliminate all natural gas. The goal is more in line with reducing greenhouse gases significantly. There’s some misinformation out there about how we’re moving away from natural gas and how we’re reducing our greenhouse gases. The reality is we’re looking at conservation and efficiency, first and foremost. The vast majority of what we’re doing is reducing the amount of energy we’re going to need to run the city. Whether that’s vehicles or whether that’s homes or buildings: it’s a reduction in energy.”
By Janet Brown, CKNW News.
Today on CKNW‘s Energy Series, Janet Brown and Jon Hall look into the City of Vancouver’s adoption of the ‘Zero Emissions Building Plan’ and one of its various steps to reduce emissions in new buildings by 2030: eliminating non-renewable natural gas.
Doug Smith is a director of sustainability for the City of Vancouver, and he says the idea isn’t exactly that simple.
“It is not the goal, necessarily, to eliminate all natural gas. The goal is more in line with reducing greenhouse gases significantly. There’s some misinformation out there about how we’re moving away from natural gas and how we’re reducing our greenhouse gases. The reality is we’re looking at conservation and efficiency, first and foremost. The vast majority of what we’re doing is reducing the amount of energy we’re going to need to run the city. Whether that’s vehicles or whether that’s homes or buildings: it’s a reduction in energy.”
Is the city of Vancouver basing this on a model in another Canadian city or somewhere else in the world?
“We’ve hired a company called ‘Navius’ to do our modeling for Vancouver, and it’s the same company both the federal government and provincial government use for their energy modeling. In fact, I believe some of the natural gas providers use them as well.”
Smith says this modeling has showed the city that there are many different paths to get towards an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases.
“The paths that we’ve done don’t necessarily mean that’ll be exactly the path that we take, but we know it’s possible and it’s technically feasible. What we’re doing is actually a little bit behind the times. If you go to Europe, pretty well the standard building code in Europe is ‘Passive House,’ which is a building that needs almost no energy to stay warm in the winter. That’s eventually where all of North America’s gonna go, and the sooner cities like Vancouver can get there the more cost-effective that change will be, and the more economic benefit we’ll derive there.”
For L.A. Metro, natural-gas buses are clean and simple choice
By Marcus Gillette, Guest Commentary, LA Daily News.
This May, the board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitcan Transportation Authority (Metro) will vote on a decision to replace 1,000 aging diesel buses with a combination of new compressed-natural gas (CNG) models fueled by renewable natural gas and electric buses.
Because of their immediate availability, affordability and “cleaner-than electric’” characteristics, 800 of the new busses would be fueled by renewable natural gas. Because electric models are exponentially more expensive and because electric bus technology is still unproven and unreliable over long-distance routes such as those serviced by L.A. Metro, the remaining 200 are slated to be electric — to serve as a test program for future electrification of the transit agency.
By Marcus Gillette, Guest Commentary, LA Daily News.
This May, the board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitcan Transportation Authority (Metro) will vote on a decision to replace 1,000 aging diesel buses with a combination of new compressed-natural gas (CNG) models fueled by renewable natural gas and electric buses.
Because of their immediate availability, affordability and “cleaner-than electric’” characteristics, 800 of the new busses would be fueled by renewable natural gas. Because electric models are exponentially more expensive and because electric bus technology is still unproven and unreliable over long-distance routes such as those serviced by L.A. Metro, the remaining 200 are slated to be electric — to serve as a test program for future electrification of the transit agency.
However, some electric bus advocates are willing to disregard facts and risk decades of continued dependence on diesel.
In a guest commentary, “View from Porter Ranch: Metro must go electric to avoid more natural-gas risk” (Daily News, March 26), writer Patricia Larcara’s premise is that Metro should forego its use of natural-gas buses because of the leak at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility.
The Southern California Gas Co. leak is unfortunate and should continue to be mitigated, and while the residents and environment surrounding Aliso Canyon continue to be on everyone’s mind, we must not confuse the issue or overlook the facts.
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