RNG NEWS
Meet the entrepreneurs who capture carbon dioxide and hope to turn it into fuels
The race is on to prove that CO2 can be taken from the air and recycled into profitable, carbon neutral fuels. But cost and investment obstacles remain.
By Mark Harris, The Guardian.
In an industrial greenhouse about 30km from Zurich, plump aubergines and juicy cherry tomatoes are ripening to perfection. Growing Mediterranean crops in Switzerland would traditionally be energy intensive but these vegetables are very nearly carbon-neutral. The greenhouse uses waste energy from a nearby refuse plant, and carbon dioxide from the world’s first commercial direct air capture plant.
The race is on to prove that CO2 can be taken from the air and recycled into profitable, carbon neutral fuels. But cost and investment obstacles remain.
By Mark Harris, The Guardian.
In an industrial greenhouse about 30km from Zurich, plump aubergines and juicy cherry tomatoes are ripening to perfection. Growing Mediterranean crops in Switzerland would traditionally be energy intensive but these vegetables are very nearly carbon-neutral. The greenhouse uses waste energy from a nearby refuse plant, and carbon dioxide from the world’s first commercial direct air capture plant.
The facility, designed by Zurich-based start-up Climeworks, pumps the gas into greenhouses to boost the plants’ photosynthesis and increase their yield, it hopes, by up to 20%. Climeworks says it will extract around 900 tonnes of CO2 a year from the air.
The company’s end game is not plumper tomatoes but something far more ambitious – proving that carbon dioxide can be recycled from the atmosphere and turned into something useful. If this installation is a success, Climeworks wants to sell its concentrated carbon dioxide to companies producing carbon-neutral hydrocarbon fuels.
Hawaii Gas receives approval from the PUC to make renewable natural gas from Honouliuli biogas
Biogas from Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant will generate revenue for the City
HONOLULU (Sept. 13, 2017) – Hawaii Gas, the state’s only regulated gas utility, received approval from the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to install equipment to capture and process biogas from the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant. Hawaii Gas was awarded the contract from the City and County of Honolulu in July of 2016 after a competitive bidding process.
“Incorporating cost-effective renewable natural gas as part of our fuel mix is a key priority as we continue to do our part to advance Hawaii’s clean energy future,” said Alicia Moy, president & CEO, Hawaii Gas. “We look forward to pursuing similar projects that deliver renewable fuels to our customers and new revenue streams to the City. This is a win-win partnership for the residents of Honolulu and our customers.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alan Tang
Mobile: 808.261.8412
alan@olomanaloomisisc.com
Biogas from Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant will generate revenue for the City
HONOLULU (Sept. 13, 2017) – Hawaii Gas, the state’s only regulated gas utility, received approval from the Hawai‘i Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to install equipment to capture and process biogas from the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant. Hawaii Gas was awarded the contract from the City and County of Honolulu in July of 2016 after a competitive bidding process.
“Incorporating cost-effective renewable natural gas as part of our fuel mix is a key priority as we continue to do our part to advance Hawaii’s clean energy future,” said Alicia Moy, president & CEO, Hawaii Gas. “We look forward to pursuing similar projects that deliver renewable fuels to our customers and new revenue streams to the City. This is a win-win partnership for the residents of Honolulu and our customers.”
The Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant produces about 800,000 therms of energy per year, which is currently not being utilized. By selling the biogas, the City and County of Honolulu will generate approximately $1.6 million of revenue per year.
The awarded contract expires December 31, 2024, with a provision to extend the term. Hawaii Gas will invest about $5 million in the infrastructure to process the raw biogas and to connect the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant to the company’s existing pipeline. The project is estimated to be operational by the end of 2018.
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About Hawaii Gas
Hawaii Gas is Hawaii’s only government-franchised, full-service gas company manufacturing and distributing gas in Hawai‘i. Hawaii Gas manufactures synthetic natural gas, or SNG, for its utility customers on O‘ahu, and distributes liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG (propane), to utility, tank and bottled gas customers to all islands. Hawaii Gas is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Macquarie Infrastructure Company. For more information, visit hawaiigas.com.
US EPA chief responds to Senate inquiry, denies Icahn influence in RFS regulation
By Reuters, via CNBC.
- The head of the EPA told a senator that investor Carl Icahn never wielded excessive influence on U.S. biofuels policy.
- Icahn ended his adviser role in August after facing criticism his guidance to Trump represented a conflict of interests as it may have benefited CVR.
By Reuters, via CNBC.
- The head of the EPA told a senator that investor Carl Icahn never wielded excessive influence on U.S. biofuels policy.
- Icahn ended his adviser role in August after facing criticism his guidance to Trump represented a conflict of interests as it may have benefited CVR.
Investor Carl Icahn never wielded excessive influence on U.S. biofuels policy while acting as President Donald Trump's adviser on regulation, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency said in a letter to a Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
The letter, dated September 11, was a response to repeated requests by Whitehouse and other Democratic lawmakers for information on Icahn's dual role as an adviser on biofuels regulation and a majority stakeholder in a refining company, CVR Energy, directly affected by those rules.
Maryland Clean Energy Supporters to Launch New Campaign
By Associated Press.
BALTIMORE — Clean energy supporters in Maryland are announcing a new campaign to require that 50 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2030.
California cap-and-trade spending plan sets aside $895 for clean vehicles
By Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times.
California will use cap-and-trade revenue for a massive investment in clean trucks, buses, cars and other vehicles, according to details of an agreement obtained by The Times on Monday evening.
The $1.5-billion spending plan comes less than two months after lawmakers extended the state’s cap-and-trade program, which requires companies to buy permits to emit greenhouse gases, until 2030.
By Chris Megerian, Los Angeles Times.
California will use cap-and-trade revenue for a massive investment in clean trucks, buses, cars and other vehicles, according to details of an agreement obtained by The Times on Monday evening.
The $1.5-billion spending plan comes less than two months after lawmakers extended the state’s cap-and-trade program, which requires companies to buy permits to emit greenhouse gases, until 2030.
The spending negotiations included more money than usual because some was left over from the previous fiscal year, held in reserve by Gov. Jerry Brown until cap and trade’s future was secure.
Here are some highlights on how the $1.5 billion would be spent if it passes the Legislature before it adjourns for the year at the end of the week.
— The biggest-ticket item is $895 million for new vehicles, a priority repeatedly highlighted by Senate Democrats. The money would flow through a variety of programs, including $140 million to the state's ports, $85 million for farm vehicles and $140 million for electric car rebates.
NGVAmerica Welcomes Daniel Gage as New President
By Betsy Lillian, NGT News.
NGVAmerica has appointed Daniel Gage its new president, succeeding Matthew Godlewski, who recently joined Ford Motor Co.
Gage comes to NGVAmerica from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, where he served as senior director of communications and public affairs starting in 2011.
“Dan’s deep experience in moving positive initiatives through a variety of channels will be critical as NGVAmerica continues to push for policies that make natural gas fuel more available to the transportation market,” comments Mitchell Pratt, chairman of NGVAmerica, in a release from the group. “As alternative fuels grab more and more headlines about their potential, it is imperative that our industry communicates the many ways natural gas is the superior choice for fleets that are looking to make a positive impact on the environment and to save money today and into the future.”
Vermont Public Utility Commission approves renewable natural gas program for Vermont Gas customers
By VT Public Utilities Commission, via VT Digger.
Montpelier, VT — September 6,2017 – Today the Vermont Public Utility Commission (“PUC”) approved a Renewable Natural Gas (“RNG”) program for Vermont Gas Systems, Inc. (“VGS”).
RNG, also known as bio-methane, is produced from materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, and compost. Under the program, retail customers can choose to buy RNG in amounts equal to 10% ,25%, 50%, or 100% of their total monthly requirements at specified prices per Ccf as an adder to other retail charges.
VGS plans to purchase RNG from the recently permitted Lincoln project that will be built on the Goodrich Farm in Salisbury, Vermont. The bio-methane produced by the Salisbury facility will be blended with the traditional fossil fuel supply in VGS’s pipeline. VGS also plans to obtain RNG from existing resources, such as solid waste facilities, that are located outside Vermont.
Walden Says RFS Amendment Hearings on House E&C Committee Fall Agenda
By George Cahlink, E&E News.
CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. — House Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden will push an ambitious fall legislative agenda that could include a major restructuring of the Department of Energy and a rewrite of the controversial renewable fuel standard.
The Oregon Republican outlined his plans during a wide-ranging interview with E&E News during a stop here last month. Crooked River Ranch is a private community in central Oregon and part of Walden's sprawling district.
By George Cahlink, E&E News.
CROOKED RIVER RANCH, Ore. — House Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden will push an ambitious fall legislative agenda that could include a major restructuring of the Department of Energy and a rewrite of the controversial renewable fuel standard.
The Oregon Republican outlined his plans during a wide-ranging interview with E&E News during a stop here last month. Crooked River Ranch is a private community in central Oregon and part of Walden's sprawling district.
Walden made clear that even with fiscal issues likely to dominate Capitol Hill in the coming weeks, there was still room for moving potentially major energy and environmental legislation through the committee, and even the House, by the end of this year.
Walden emphasized that House Republican leaders have asked all committee chairmen to look at reauthorizing agencies and programs under their purview that in some cases have gone decades without new policy instructions from Congress.
Duke University Files Favorable Statement to North Carolina Pipeline Injection Proceeding
During a North Carolina pipeline injection stakeholder meeting on August 25, Duke University issued a statement specifying the university's willingness and support for accepting gas with lower heat content (down to 960 Btu/scf), such as gas derived from landfill and agricultural methane-capture systems.
Duke University is consistently among the largest non-utility natural gas consumers in the state, with annual gas consumption of 1.6-1.8 billion cubic feet.
RNG Coalition staff and members have engaged in the NCUC proceeding with formal and informal written and oral comments and are generally happy with the revisions to date.
Read Duke University's full statement HERE.
RNG Trends In Canada: Interest in production & utilization of RNG is growing in several provinces
By Peter Gorrie, BioCycle.
We want as much green gas supply as possible,” notes Don Beverly, with Gaz Métro, the largest natural gas distributor in Canada’s province of Quebec. That’s the growing message from officials at utilities in three of the country’s 13 provinces and territories, where government policies on climate change and waste diversion have combined with public pressure to spike interest in renewable natural gas, also known as RNG or biomethane.
Almost everyone in the Canadian industry expresses similar enthusiasm. “We’ve been putting a lot of focus on opportunities with RNG,” explains Jennifer Green, executive director of the Canadian Biogas Association, the national lobbying group for biogas production. “Opportunities are very much prompted by a lot of policy developments converging. Momentum is growing nationally, and Canada has the opportunity to be a leader in RNG production.” Still, industry supporters acknowledge it’s early days for RNG and daunting challenges must be overcome.
By Peter Gorrie, BioCycle.
We want as much green gas supply as possible,” notes Don Beverly, with Gaz Métro, the largest natural gas distributor in Canada’s province of Quebec. That’s the growing message from officials at utilities in three of the country’s 13 provinces and territories, where government policies on climate change and waste diversion have combined with public pressure to spike interest in renewable natural gas, also known as RNG or biomethane.
Almost everyone in the Canadian industry expresses similar enthusiasm. “We’ve been putting a lot of focus on opportunities with RNG,” explains Jennifer Green, executive director of the Canadian Biogas Association, the national lobbying group for biogas production. “Opportunities are very much prompted by a lot of policy developments converging. Momentum is growing nationally, and Canada has the opportunity to be a leader in RNG production.” Still, industry supporters acknowledge it’s early days for RNG and daunting challenges must be overcome.
RNG now accounts for a mere 0.016 percent of Canada’s natural gas consumption. To date, fewer than a dozen production facilities have been built, and, apart from one small pilot project, they’re all located in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, which, granted, contain nearly three-quarter’s of Canada’s population. The current low price of fossil fuels has weakened the economic case for RNG, underlying the need for policies that provide adequate, stable and long-term revenue streams.
Most prospective developments are on hold, awaiting transformation of supportive but vague government policy pronouncements into detailed regulations and programs. The federal government is looking at a plan to have carbon pricing — either through a direct price ($50/metric ton is being considered) or cap-and-trade system — in every part of the country as of next year. As a complement, it also promises to enact a national Clean Fuel Standard aimed at achieving a 30-megatonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption in transportation, homes, businesses and industry. The standard is under discussion, promised for 2019 but with no indication of what it might look like.