RNG NEWS
New feed-in tariff promotes biogas potential in Ireland
By Penn Energy.
In the course of 2017, Ireland intends to initiate the energy reform with a new feed-in tariff for renewable energies. The government plans to increase the amount of green electricity from the current figure of about 23 percent to 40 percent by 2020. The tariff system is to establish a favourable environment for biogas plant operation. In view of the extensive agricultural and waste resource potential available in Ireland, WELTEC BIOPOWER UK will showcase its AD plant technologies at the Energy Now Expo Ireland, which will be held in the end of October in The Hub in Kilkenny.
By Penn Energy.
In the course of 2017, Ireland intends to initiate the energy reform with a new feed-in tariff for renewable energies. The government plans to increase the amount of green electricity from the current figure of about 23 percent to 40 percent by 2020. The tariff system is to establish a favourable environment for biogas plant operation. In view of the extensive agricultural and waste resource potential available in Ireland, WELTEC BIOPOWER UK will showcase its AD plant technologies at the Energy Now Expo Ireland, which will be held in the end of October in The Hub in Kilkenny.
In early September, the Irish Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment (DCCAE) announced the adoption of a new subsidy regime to promote renewable energies, to be known as the Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS). So far, Ireland has been the only European country without an incentive scheme for heat from renewable sources. However, the green island has to meet EU requirements by 2020. This means that 16 percent of Ireland‘s total energy needs for power, heat and traffic must be provided from renewable energies. This is to be achieved by making use of all green energy sources available in the country. Biogas is to play a key role especially in meeting the individual goals for the heat and transport sector.
Ontario considers disposal ban on organic waste
TORONTO -- From coffee grounds, to leftover fettuccine alfredo, to the slimy, brown head of lettuce forgotten at the back of your fridge, the Ontario government is aiming to keep all organic waste away from landfills.
It's an ambitious target for a province that generates nearly 12 million tonnes of waste a year -- more than 850 kilograms per person -- and only recycles about a quarter of that amount.
By Canadian Press.
TORONTO -- From coffee grounds, to leftover fettuccine alfredo, to the slimy, brown head of lettuce forgotten at the back of your fridge, the Ontario government is aiming to keep all organic waste away from landfills.
It's an ambitious target for a province that generates nearly 12 million tonnes of waste a year -- more than 850 kilograms per person -- and only recycles about a quarter of that amount.
If improvements aren't made, the province's landfills could run out of capacity within the next 20 years, the government warns.
In 2004, the Liberal government promised to boost the rate of waste diversion -- through recycling and composting programs for example -- to 60 per cent in four years. But 13 years later, the rate hasn't changed. Now, the government has set its sights on an even more distant target of 100 per cent.
U.S. EIA's International Energy Outlook 2017 says Natural Gas vehicle fuel use will grow nearly 600% from 2015 to 2040
By US Gas Vehicles.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its International Energy Outlook 2017 that assesses international energy markets, including transportation, through 2050.
By USGasVehicles.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its International Energy Outlook 2017 that assesses international energy markets, including transportation, through 2050.
The report found that natural gas is expected to be one of the fastest-growing forms of energy used for transportation in OECD countries on a percentage basis, a trend largely driven by favorable economics in heavy trucking.
“The share of natural gas as a transportation fuel grows from 4% in 2015 to 9% in 2040. Natural gas consumption for passenger and freight transportation—excluding natural gas pipeline consumption—grows to nearly six times its 2015 level by 2040, reaching 9 quadrillion Btu in 2040.”
Access the report HERE.
DSNY publishes proposed rule to expand commercial organics diversion
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.
UPDATE: New York's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has officially published a proposed rule to expand the types of commercial establishments covered by its organics diversion mandate.
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.
UPDATE: New York's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has officially published a proposed rule to expand the types of commercial establishments covered by its organics diversion mandate.
This decision, backed up by DSNY's determination that adequate processing capacity exists in the region, will affect an estimated 2,000 new businesses. The published rule reiterates plans to cover large restaurants, chain establishments with more than 50 locations in the city, and large retail stores. The proposal stipulates that this will also apply to any retail stores with three or more locations with a combined floor area space of at least 10,000 square feet, and operate under the same control, with service from the same commercial waste company. Any covered businesses that are currently using on-site organic waste processing equipment, or plan to, would also now be required to renew that registration annually.
A public hearing on this proposal has been scheduled for Oct. 31, with comments due by the end of that business day. If approved, the rule is expected to begin taking effect sometime in 2018.
United Nations data update finds methane emissions from cattle are 11% higher than previously estimated
Bigger livestock in larger numbers in more regions has led to methane in the air climbing faster than predicted due to ‘out-of-date data’
By Agence France-Presse, via The Guardian.
Emissions of the greenhouse gas methane from livestock are larger than previously thought, posing an additional challenge in the fight to curb global warming, scientists have said.
Bigger livestock in larger numbers in more regions has led to methane in the air climbing faster than predicted due to ‘out-of-date data’
By Agence France-Presse, via The Guardian.
Emissions of the greenhouse gas methane from livestock are larger than previously thought, posing an additional challenge in the fight to curb global warming, scientists have said.
Revised calculations of methane produced per head of cattle show that global livestock emissions in 2011 were 11% higher than estimates based on data from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC).
Periodic reports by the IPCC, drawing from thousands of scientists, help leaders take action on climate change, which has begun to wreak havoc on weather around the world.
“In many regions, livestock numbers are changing, and breeding has resulted in larger animals with higher intakes of food,” said Julie Wolf, a researcher in the US Department of Agriculture and the lead author of a study in the journal Carbon Balance and Management.
Ontario Joins Cap-and-Trade Partnership with California & Quebec
QUÉBEC CITY – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed an agreement with the leaders of Québec and Ontario to officially integrate their cap-and-trade programs, expanding the three-year partnership between California and Québec to include Ontario, Canada’s most populous province and leading industrial region. The agreement takes effect January 1, 2018.
QUÉBEC CITY – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed an agreement with the leaders of Québec and Ontario to officially integrate their cap-and-trade programs, expanding the three-year partnership between California and Québec to include Ontario, Canada’s most populous province and leading industrial region. The agreement takes effect January 1, 2018.
"Climate change, if left unchecked, will profoundly disrupt the economies of the world and cause untold human suffering," said Governor Brown. "That's the reason why California and Québec are joining with Ontario to create an expanded and dynamic carbon market, which will drive down greenhouse gas emissions."
“Climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. Now more than ever, we need to work together with our partners around the world and at home to show how our collaboration can lead to results in this international fight. Today’s carbon market linking agreement will add to the success we have already seen in reducing GHG emissions in Ontario, California and Québec. We are stronger together and by linking our three carbon markets we will achieve even greater reductions at the lowest cost. I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Brown and Premier Couillard on our common goals, including advocating for the adoption of carbon markets and emissions cap programs across North America and around the world,” said Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.
Vox: The most effective clean energy policy gets the least love - In defense of renewable energy mandates
By David Roberts, Vox.
Back in the 1990s and 2000s, when Democrats had more power in state governments, 29 states (and DC) passed some form of renewable portfolio standard (RPS), a policy that requires a state’s utilities to get a certain percentage of their power from renewable sources by a certain year.
Standards range from California’s wildly ambitious 50-percent-by-2030 to Ohio’s modest12.5-percent-by-2026, and everywhere in between.
By David Roberts, Vox.
Back in the 1990s and 2000s, when Democrats had more power in state governments, 29 states (and DC) passed some form of renewable portfolio standard (RPS), a policy that requires a state’s utilities to get a certain percentage of their power from renewable sources by a certain year.
Standards range from California’s wildly ambitious 50-percent-by-2030 to Ohio’s modest12.5-percent-by-2026, and everywhere in between.
Though they aren’t as sexy as perpetually-discussed-but-rarely-passed carbon taxes, and they are flawed and insufficient in a number of ways, RPSs have been the quiet workhorses of renewable energy deployment in the US. According to one Lawrence Berkeley Lab report, fully 62 percent of the growth in US non-hydro renewables since 2000 has been undertaken to satisfy RPS requirements.
AMP Americas Dairy Waste-to-Vehicle Fuel Pathway Registers Lowest CARB Carbon Intensity Score to Date
Becomes First Dairy Waste-to-Vehicle Fuel Pathway Certified by California’s Air Resources Board; Names Martin Gilkes COO, Opens LA Office
CHICAGO – AMP Americas, the pioneering renewable natural gas (RNG) producer and marketer, and compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel provider for the heavy-duty, commercial trucking industry, today announced that its RNG operation at Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana has received the first dairy waste-to-vehicle fuel pathway certified by California's Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB awarded the company a Carbon Intensity (CI) score of -254.94 gCO2e/MJ, which is the lowest ever issued by CARB.
Becomes First Dairy Waste-to-Vehicle Fuel Pathway Certified by California’s Air Resources Board; Names Martin Gilkes COO, Opens LA Office
CHICAGO – AMP Americas, the pioneering renewable natural gas (RNG) producer and marketer, and compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel provider for the heavy-duty, commercial trucking industry, today announced that its RNG operation at Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana has received the first dairy waste-to-vehicle fuel pathway certified by California's Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB awarded the company a Carbon Intensity (CI) score of -254.94 gCO2e/MJ, which is the lowest ever issued by CARB.
AMP Americas also announced today that it has opened an office in Los Angeles and has named Martin Gilkes COO. Gilkes will lead the AMP Americas team, head up the company’s California office, and will work with policy makers and industry colleagues to shape state and federal clean transportation policy. The new office will allow AMP Americas to better serve its expanding customer base in California.
AMP Americas' first project at Fair Oaks Farms has been in action since 2011 and produces over 1.5 million gallons of 100 percent renewable transportation fuel from dairy waste every year. The project was also the first, and to-date only, U.S. EPA Renewable Fuel Standard-certified dairy waste-to-vehicle fuel project in the U.S. It is the first of its kind in California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard program. Fuels that emit more carbon have higher scores. Diesel registers +98, while traditional natural gas is only +79 and California electric is +35. Fair Oaks’ -255 CI makes trucks using its fuel far cleaner than electric.
“There are very few credible providers in the dairy RNG space, no one with the level of experience we have operating dairy RNG, and no one with the CNG station network integrated with RNG production assets and marketing capabilities,” said Martin Gilkes, COO at AMP Americas. “AMP Americas is leading the way in comprehensive renewable fueling for heavy trucks, and I am excited to join this talented team and help realize the massive opportunity in front of us.”
AMP Americas’ Renewable Dairy Fuels (RDF) is investing heavily in dairy RNG projects and partnering with dairy farmers across the country. RDF’s investments will bring more ultra-low CI gas to market and will help solve major air quality and climate challenges. Construction is currently underway for the company’s second RNG project using dairy digester gas. RDF plans to more than double its dairy gas output by early 2018 and aims to deliver 100 percent RNG to all 20 of its fueling stations as it brings on future projects.
“Adding Martin to our team is an important step for our company,” said Grant Zimmerman, CEO at AMP Americas. “His knowledge and extensive experience as an operator, an investor, and a client service leader will help us execute our aggressive growth plans, achieve our mission to clean up the nation’s air, and to preserve our climate by fueling the transformation of heavy-duty trucking with clean natural gas and renewable natural gas.”
Prior to joining AMP Americas, Martin was Global Head of Strategic Planning and Vice President of Investor Relations at Mattel, the largest toy manufacturer in the world. Before Mattel, he was a Vice President in Bain Capital's North American Private Equity business and spent six years prior to that as a Principal at The Boston Consulting Group. He holds a BS from MIT, an MSc from the University of Oxford and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
About AMP Americas
AMP Americas operates three business units; Renewable Dairy Fuels, ampRenew and ampCNG. Renewable Dairy Fuels (RDF) produces 100 percent renewable natural gas from an anaerobic digester at Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana. ampRenew, the company’s branded high quality RNG sourcing, marketing, and risk management business, sources RNG from Fair Oaks Farms and third party RNG developers to supply partner CNG stations, ampCNG stations, and fleet customers with clean sustainable RNG for trucking fleets. ampCNG is leading the movement to help heavy-duty trucking fleets transition to cost-effective, clean and American-produced CNG. A member of the Department of Energy’s National Clean Fleets Partnership tasked to reduce the nation’s dependency on imported oil, ampCNG builds, owns and operates a growing network of CNG fueling stations for long-haul trucking fleets. For more information, call (312) 300-6700 or visit http://www.ampcng.com.
Media Contact:
VineSprout PR for AMP Americas
Ben Pavlovic
312-961-3919
ben@vinesprout.com
EPA considers reductions to 2018 Advanced Biofuel & 2019 Biodiesel RVOs
By Erin Voegele, Ethanol Producer Magazine.
On Sept. 26, the U.S. EPA published a notice of data availability (NODA) concerning potential reductions in renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018 and 2019 under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The potential reductions primarily concern RVOs for biomass-based diesel, but would potentially result in corresponding reductions in RVOs for advanced biofuels and total renewable fuel.
The NODA presents historical data on imports of renewable fuel and several options for how the EPA may consider such data in establishing final RVOs using one or more of the waiver authorities provided by statute. A public comment period is scheduled to be open for 15 days following publication of the NODA in the Federal Register.
By Erin Voegele, Ethanol Producer Magazine.
On Sept. 26, the U.S. EPA published a notice of data availability (NODA) concerning potential reductions in renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for 2018 and 2019 under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The potential reductions primarily concern RVOs for biomass-based diesel, but would potentially result in corresponding reductions in RVOs for advanced biofuels and total renewable fuel.
The NODA presents historical data on imports of renewable fuel and several options for how the EPA may consider such data in establishing final RVOs using one or more of the waiver authorities provided by statute. A public comment period is scheduled to be open for 15 days following publication of the NODA in the Federal Register.
The U.S. EPA released its proposed rule to set 2018 RVOs under the RFS in July, along with the 2019 RVO for biomass-based diesel. In its new NODA, the EPA explains that the rulemaking included proposed reductions in statutory volume targets for advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel using the cellulosic waiver authority included in the Clean Air Act. “We proposed using the maximum reduction permitted under the authority (considering the proposed cellulosic volume requirement) to reduce the 2018 volume targets for advanced biofuel and total renewable fuel to 4.24 and 19.24 billion gallons, respectively, in part by placing a greater emphasis on cost considerations than we have in the past,” wrote the EPA in the NODA. The EPA also indicated it requested comments on possible additional reductions in advanced biofuel, with corresponding reductions in total renewable fuel, using the general waiver authority, along with comments on whether EPA should reduce the 2019 RVO for biomass-based diesel below the proposed 2.1 billion gallons. While the proposed rule did not specifically seek comments on a potential reduction in the 2018 RVO for biomass-based diesel, the EPA said that since biomass-based diesel is nested within the advanced biofuel requirement and is the predominant source of advanced biofuel, considerations leading to a reduction of advanced biofuel may also be relevant in reducing the 2018 RVO for biomass-based diesel.
Read more HERE.
View EPA's full Notice of Data Availability HERE.
Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport Praises Green Benefits, Low Fuel Costs of RNG
Since announcing its milestone as the first carbon-neutral airport in the United States, Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) Airport has continued its quest for carbon and greenhouse gas reductions by switching from geologic sourced compressed natural gas to renewable natural gas vehicle fuel. DFW has taken to social media to express its commitment to new, innovative ways to benefit the environment, and the cost benefits of RNG.
DFW's statement on social media disclosed, "Not only will this switch [to RNG] lower costs, but it will reduce transportation fleet emissions by an estimated 79%."
View the post on LinkedIn HERE.
