California Department of Food and Agriculture Awards $35.2 Million for Dairy Digester Projects

SACRAMENTO – October 25, 2017 – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has awarded $35.2 million in grant funding to 18 dairy digester projects across the state. These projects, part of the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from manure on California dairy farms.

“California continues to the lead the nation in supporting smart climate programs that address on-farm challenges and promote agricultural sustainability,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “I applaud our dairy farmers for proactively addressing climate pollutants and reducing overall greenhouse emissions to help meet the state’s climate goals.”

Dairy manure produces methane when it decomposes.  Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that traps more than 80 times as much heat in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Dairy digesters help capture methane emissions, which can be used to produce electricity or natural gas. 

CDFA also administers the Alternative Manure Management Program, which promotes non-digester manure management practices in California dairy and livestock operations to reduce methane emissions. CDFA received 53 applications by the Oct. 16, 2017 deadline, requesting a total of $29.5 million in grants. These applications are currently under review

Financial assistance for the installation of dairy digesters comes from California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that uses Cap-and-Trade program funds to support the state’s climate goals. CDFA and other state agencies are investing these proceeds in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide additional benefits to California communities. Dairy digester grant recipients will provide an estimated $71.2 million in matching funds for the development of their projects.

Information about the 2017 Dairy Digester Research and Development Program projects is available at www.cdfa.ca.gov/go/dd.

House bill introduced to reestablish tax credits to biogas, WTE projects

By Cody Bottler, Waste Dive.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY, recently introduced H.R. 4137, a measure that would extend tax credits for electricity produced from a number of renewable sources, including biogas and waste-to-energy.

The bill would make it so that biomass, geothermal, landfill gas, "trash facilities" and hydropower facilities are again covered under Code Section 45 and given a production tax credit for generating electricity.

In a press release, Stefanik said that renewable energy sources, like biomass, municipal solid waste and hydropower, "represent a new frontier for our environment and for economic growth, and it's important that we give them the support they need."

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Grand Junction, Colorado BioCNG Facility Featured on National Geographic

By City of Grand Junction.

The highly acclaimed and internationally recognized biogas project at the Persigo Wastewater Treatment Facility will receive even more attention in the coming week when it is featured on the National Geographic Channel series “Positive Energy”. The series, which chronicles energy projects in North and South America, begins Wednesday, October 18 at 3:00 p.m. The first episode will include the Grand Junction story. A film crew was onsite last November working with City staff to produce the segment.

In 2006, the City of Grand Junction began researching a biogas project that would allow methane gas produced at the Persigo Wastewater Treatment Facility to be used as vehicle fuel. Currently, the facility produces approximately 120,000 cubic feet of gas in the anaerobic digestion process per day. Since plant startup back in 1984, only a small amount of the methane was used to fuel the boilers that heat the digestion process, with the vast majority of the gas being flared off.

In 2011, the City began implementing a plan for the future by beginning to purchase Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fleet vehicles and planning for construction of a fueling station for them. The first CNG solid waste trucks were delivered within days of the CNG fueling station being completed.

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RNG Recommendations Included in CEC's 2017 Draft Integrated Energy Policy Report

The California Energy Commission (CEC) issued its 2017 Draft Integrated Energy Policy Report this month. The draft report includes a lengthy section (chapter 9) dedicated to renewable gas that concludes with policy recommendations.

Notably included among the more than fifteen recommendations are for the state to: 

• Encourage RNG for use in state fleets;
• Continue the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS); and
• Implement policies to build commercial markets for RNG.

Access the Report Draft HERE.  The policy recommendations span portions of the last four pages.

California Grant Opportunities: Addressing Barriers to Near-Zero Emission NGV Adoption, and Low Carbon Fuel R&D

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is seeking applicants until November 27 for a grant funding opportunity to address barriers to wider adoption of near-zero emission natural gas vehicles.

On October 17, RNG Coalition staff participated in a CEC webinar to address questions on the grant opportunity, and to provide a space for individuals subscribed to the LinkedIn subgroup focused on the opportunity to network and potentially form project teams.

View more about the opportunity HERE.

The CEC also seeks applicants for federal cost share for cutting-edge, pre-commercial low-carbon fuel production systems with wide-scale adoption potential, in line with California’s greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts. Electronic applications are due October 26.

View more about this opportunity HERE.

Energy Vision Announces 2017 Awards to Companies Advancing RNG Made from Organic Waste

On October 18, non-profit organization Energy Vision announced awards to three companies advancing RNG made from organic waste: Ameresco, Quantum Biopower, and CCI Bioenergy.

In Arizona, RNG Coalition member Ameresco worked with Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale and Glendale to develop/design/build/own/operate a wastewater treatment biogas facility to serve the region:  Phoenix's 91st Ave Wastewater Treatment Plant. It will be the largest wastewater treatment biogas-to-RNG facility in the U.S., with enough RNG capacity to displace more than four million gallons of diesel annually.

Energy Vision awarded Quantum Biopower for building the New York area's first food waste-to-energy facility in Southington, Connecticut

CCI BioEnergy in Ontario received an award for piloting compact, innovative bioQUBE micro digesters which convert organic wastes into RNG and bio-fertilizer. 

Read the full press release HERE. 

DMT Clear Gas Solutions to Provide Upgrading Technology for Honolulu Wastewater-to-RNG Project

RNG Coalition member DMT Clear Gas Solutions was awarded the contract to supply the biogas upgrading technology for the wastewater-to-RNG project at Honolulu's wastewater treatment plant.

Renewable gas from the plant will comprise 2.8% of the gas used in Hawaii. RNG used from the facility will be equivalent to supplanting the use of nearly 15,000 barrels of oil or 575,000 gallons of diesel fuel. 

Read the full Press Release HERE.

RNG Coalition Comments on EPA's Request for Further Comment on 2018 RFS Volumes

On October 19, RNG Coalition staff submitted comments in response to EPA's request for further comment on proposed changes to the 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO).

While EPA's late September Notice of Data Availability does not include proposed reductions in cellulosic biofuel, it indicated that EPA is considering reductions in the RFS obligations for the advanced biofuel, biomass-based diesel (BBD) and total renewable categories, and exploring further use of EPA's waiver authority.

The RNG Coalition's comments:

• Call on EPA to fulfill Congressional intent and the purposes for the RFS by considering increases to 2018 RVO volumes;
• Reiterate the shortcomings of EPA's proposed use of only historical data in its new methodology for projecting cellulosic biofuel volumes; and
• Explain the RNG Coalition's opposition to EPA's attempts to rewrite its waiver authority.

Read the RNG Coalition's submitted comments HERE.

Pruitt Responds to RFS Meetings with Letter: Point of Obligation Change to be Rejected, 2018 RFS Volumes at or Above Those in Draft Rule

On October 19, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt issued a letter to several Midwestern senators that reaffirms EPA’s commitment to uphold the laws passed by Congress, to finalize the 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations by November 30 at volumes equal to or greater than those proposed, and to officially reject a requested change in point of obligation from refiners to blenders within 30 days. 

The letter was addressed to Senators Joni Ernst (IA), Chuck Grassley (IA), Pat Roberts (KS), John Thune (SD), Deb Fischer (NE), Mike Rounds (SD), and Ben Sasse (NE), who met with Admin. Pruitt on October 17 on Capitol Hill to discuss their concerns over EPA's proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard, and perceived wavering support from EPA for the biofuels industry in the program. 

Pruitt's letter comes after four state governors issued a letter to the President on October 16 expressing similar concerns and urging the Trump administration to follow through on campaign promises to support further development of U.S. biofuels. 

Read more about the October 17 meeting HERE. 

Read more about Trump's response to the October 16 letter HERE.

Rural governors tell Trump: 'Fulfill your promises' on biofuels, while biofuel state Senators meet with Pruitt

By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive. 

In a letter to President Trump, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, joined by the governors of Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota, expressed concern for how Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has acted regarding the renewable fuel standard (RFS). The governors said the EPA seeking comment on cuts to 2018-2019 RFS volumes, and signaling an intent to waive volumes for 2018, showed "a willingness to upend a decision producers and other stakeholders have already relied upon to make investments, contractual commitments and create jobs." In a press conference Wednesday, Reynolds said the administration was "feeling the pressure" and that biofuel supporters "can't let down."

Following a meeting with Pruitt, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley said he will watch the RFS "closely" and "hold the administration accountable," while Iowa Senator Joni Ernst said, "Administrator Pruitt again claimed today that he will not do anything to undermine the program. However, we have heard this before. We now need to see it." Ernst said she could not back a nominee to head an EPA office that runs the RFS without further assurances from the agency to protect the program, according to Bloomberg.

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