RNG NEWS
EPA Sends Final 2018 RVO Rule to OMB for Review
By Erin Voegele, Biomass Magazine.
The White House Office of Management and Budget is reviewing the U.S. EPA’s final rule to set 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard renewable volume requirements (RVOs), along with the 2019 RVO for biomass-based diesel. OMB review marks a final step before the final rule is released to the public. Under statute, the EPA is required to issue a final rule establishing 2018 RVOs by Nov. 30.
By Erin Voegele, Biomass Magazine.
The White House Office of Management and Budget is reviewing the U.S. EPA’s final rule to set 2018 Renewable Fuel Standard renewable volume requirements (RVOs), along with the 2019 RVO for biomass-based diesel. OMB review marks a final step before the final rule is released to the public. Under statute, the EPA is required to issue a final rule establishing 2018 RVOs by Nov. 30.
The EPA first released its proposal to set 2018 RVOs and the 2019 RVO for biomass-based diesel on July 5. The proposal calls for 19.24 billion gallons of total renewable fuel, including 238 million gallons of cellulosic biofuel, 2.1 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel and 4.24 billion gallons of advanced biofuel. The 2.1 billion gallon biomass-based diesel requirement for 2018 was finalized last year. For 2019, the new proposal calls for the biomass-based diesel RVO to be maintained at 2.1 billion gallons.
When compared to the final RVO for 2017, the requirement for total renewable fuel drops slightly from 19.28 billion gallons to the proposed 19.24 billion gallons. The cellulosic RVO has also been lowered, from 311 million gallons in 2017 to a proposed 238 million gallons in 2018, with the advanced biofuel requirement dropping from 4.28 billion gallons in 2017 to a proposed 4.24 billion gallons in 2018. The final RVO for biomass-based diesel in 2017 was set at 2 billion gallons.
California Names Two New Climate Change Appointees
Julie Henderson, 55, of San Francisco, has been appointed deputy secretary for climate and health policy at the California Environmental Protection Agency. Henderson served as senior vice president of the Public Affairs Division at the University of California, Office of the President from 2015 to 2017, where she was chief of staff to the senior vice president of external relations from 2013 to 2015. She was a senior advisor in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. from 2011 to 2013, special assistant attorney general at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General from 2008 to 2010 and vice president and associate general counsel at the Gap Inc. from 2000 to 2007. This position does not require Senate confirmation.
Joseph Wall, 26, of Sacramento, has been appointed special assistant for climate change at the California Natural Resources Agency, where he has been an associate governmental program analyst since 2016 and was a staff services analyst from 2015 to 2016 and an executive fellow from 2014 to 2015. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $88,752. Wall is registered without party preference.
6 trade associations ask NY to withdraw new commercial organics rule
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.
Trade associations from both the waste and food industries recently asked New York's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to withdraw a proposed commercial organics diversion rule for reconsideration due to multiple concerns. The request came in a letter, submitted ahead of an Oct. 31 hearing on the proposal, that was jointly signed by the National Waste & Recycling Association's local chapter, New Yorkers for Responsible Waste Management, Food Industry Alliance of New York State, New York State Restaurant Association, New York City Hospitality Alliance and National Supermarket Association.
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.
Trade associations from both the waste and food industries recently asked New York's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) to withdraw a proposed commercial organics diversion rule for reconsideration due to multiple concerns. The request came in a letter, submitted ahead of an Oct. 31 hearing on the proposal, that was jointly signed by the National Waste & Recycling Association's local chapter, New Yorkers for Responsible Waste Management, Food Industry Alliance of New York State, New York State Restaurant Association, New York City Hospitality Alliance and National Supermarket Association.
While the letter say these associations "support the city's commitment to the diversion of organic waste," it raises multiple pages' worth of questions about regional processing capacity, stakeholder consultation, costs and other factors. The letter also calls for parallel consideration of a residential organics diversion mandate, in the spirit of mandatory recycling rules throughout the city.
BTS Bioenergy to Build North American HQ, Two Anaerobic Digestion Facilities in Maryland
By Waste 360.
The Maryland Environmental Service (MES) has entered into a consulting agreement with BTS Bioenergy to begin work for the company on planned projects in Howard County, Md.
By Waste 360.
The Maryland Environmental Service (MES) has entered into a consulting agreement with BTS Bioenergy to begin work for the company on planned projects in Howard County, Md.
BTS Bioenergy will establish the company’s North American headquarters and develop two bio-digestion recycling facilities in Howard County. The Howard County and BTS MOU will result in up to a $40 million investment and the creation of as many as 20 jobs in Howard County.
The MES and BTS Bioenergy agreement provides support and technical services for the Howard County projects. MES already operates fourteen water and wastewater treatment facilities throughout Howard County, including those at a number of the county’s schools.
Nebraska Landfill Gas Project Could Net County $200K Annually
By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive.
Nebraska-based BioResource Development will begin collecting and cleaning gas from the 160-acre Sarpy County landfill by the end of the year, as reported by the Omaha World-Herald.
The contract was finalized in 2016, after Sarpy County put out a request for proposals to help mitigate the odor coming from the soon-to-be-capped landfill. BioResource Development is installing new wells with vacuums to collect gas, which will be sold to a local utility. Black Hills Energy, the utility that serves the county and will pay for the cleaned methane from the project, has already built a 3.5 mile pipeline to connect the landfill to its larger distribution pipeline.
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.”
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.