RNG NEWS
12th annual Global Carbon Budget report by 76 leading emissions experts says burning of fossil fuels to hit record high in 2017
By IANS, via Business Standard.
Burning of fossil fuels worldwide is set to hit a record high in 2017, following three years of flat growth that raised hopes that a peak in global emissions had been reached, the Global Carbon Budget report published on Monday revealed.
By IANS, via Business Standard.
Burning of fossil fuels worldwide is set to hit a record high in 2017, following three years of flat growth that raised hopes that a peak in global emissions had been reached, the Global Carbon Budget report published on Monday revealed.
The 12th annual report is produced by 76 of the world's leading emissions experts from 57 research institutions and estimates that global carbon emissions from fossil fuels will have risen by 2 per cent by the end of 2017 -- a significant rise, reports the Guardian.
The main reason for the rise is an expected 3.5 per cent increase in emissions in China, the world's biggest polluter, where low rains have reduced low-carbon hydroelectric output and industrial activity has increased.
American Leaders Pledge to meet Paris Climate Accord in Germany, with or without Administration's backing
By Christopher Cadelago, The Sacramento Bee.
BONN, GERMANY - American leaders pledged their allegiance to the Paris climate accord Saturday, pummeling President Donald Trump’s promised retreat from the global coalition as a temporary diversion that won’t impede their progress toward keeping global temperatures below catastrophic levels.
By Christopher Cadelago, The Sacramento Bee.
BONN, GERMANY - American leaders pledged their allegiance to the Paris climate accord Saturday, pummeling President Donald Trump’s promised retreat from the global coalition as a temporary diversion that won’t impede their progress toward keeping global temperatures below catastrophic levels.
“It is important for the world to know the American government may have pulled out of the Paris agreement, but the American people are committed to its goals and there is nothing Washington can do to stop it,” Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, said at a launch for America’s Pledge in Bonn, where talks are continuing at the 23rd “conference of the parties,” or COP 23.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts said while Trump wants to “cop out” on climate action, “we know that C.O.P. really stands for ‘can’t obstruct progress, that climate outlasts presidents.’ That’s what C.O.P. stands for.
Wisconsin county moves to sell biogas rather than generate electricity from it
By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive.
Dane County, WI officials plan to spend $23.5 million on new infrastructure to inject landfill gas into an interstate pipeline for sale, rather than use the gas to generate electricity, as reported by the Wisconsin State Journal. The county has budgeted $18 million for equipment to refine and inject landfill gas into the TransCanada pipeline and an additional $5.5 million for equipment to inject biogas that is brought to the landfill by biodigesters.
By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive.
Dane County, WI officials plan to spend $23.5 million on new infrastructure to inject landfill gas into an interstate pipeline for sale, rather than use the gas to generate electricity, as reported by the Wisconsin State Journal. The county has budgeted $18 million for equipment to refine and inject landfill gas into the TransCanada pipeline and an additional $5.5 million for equipment to inject biogas that is brought to the landfill by biodigesters.
Officials project the new equipment will be operational by early 2019. County Executive Joe Parisi told the Journal that the county thinks the new infrastructure will attract more private investment in biodigesters in the region. County officials project "millions" in annual income from selling landfill gas and expect biodigesters trucking gas to the new injection point to create even more revenue.
The Dane County project is the first of its kind in Wisconsin. The county will sell only to compressed natural gas (CNG) markets and anticipates that three years of sales will recoup the $18 million cost of the equipment needed to refine the landfill gas into CNG.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf asks for RFS volume requirements waiver
By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive.
In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf asked for the administrator to reduce volumes required under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Wolf did, in his letter, note overall support for the program.
By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive.
In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf asked for the administrator to reduce volumes required under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Wolf did, in his letter, note overall support for the program.
Wolf said the Northeast region of the U.S. would feel "severe economic harm" under current proposed levels because of "the high cost of purchasing RINs [Renewable Identification Numbers] to comply with the RFS."
Wolf added in the letter that because of the increasing costs of RINs, at least two merchant refiners in Pennsylvania now spend more annually on purchasing RINs than they do on payrolls costs. An EPA spokesperson told Waste Dive in an email that the agency would review Wolf's letter and respond through the appropriate channels, but did not offer further specifics.
Read more HERE.
Read the full letter HERE.
U.S. lawmakers from Mid-Atlantic refining states request FTC investigation into RIN markets
November 7, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper, top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, along with a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers, highlighted concerns regarding possible market manipulation in the compliance system used for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, known as the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) market.
In a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Acting Chairman Maureen Olhausen, Delaware’s congressional delegation of Senators Carper, Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.), as well as Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.), asked the agency to investigate and end any possible RIN market manipulation under the jurisdiction of the Commission’s Petroleum Market Manipulation Rule.
November 7, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper, top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, along with a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers, highlighted concerns regarding possible market manipulation in the compliance system used for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, known as the Renewable Identification Number (RIN) market.
In a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Acting Chairman Maureen Olhausen, Delaware’s congressional delegation of Senators Carper, Chris Coons and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.), as well as Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.), asked the agency to investigate and end any possible RIN market manipulation under the jurisdiction of the Commission’s Petroleum Market Manipulation Rule.
The lawmakers wrote, “Over the past four years, RIN prices have fluctuated wildly. Since earlier this year alone, they have spiked over 200 percent. This price volatility creates great uncertainty for obligated parties, especially for merchant refineries like the ones along the East Coast that have limited capability to blend biofuels into their products and need RINS to comply with the RFS program’s requirements. East Coast refineries already face slim profit margins, in part, due to their dependence on international markets for crude feedstocks, high gasoline inventories and the competition they face from global refiners. Volatility in the RIN market only adds to the East Coast refineries economic concerns.
They continued, “RIN market manipulation hurts all parties and directly harms our constituents. That is why we urgently request that the Federal Trade Commission use its authority to address RIN market manipulation.”
Read the full letter HERE.
Michigan State University produces power from food waste using Anaerobic Digestion, and initiates global research partnerships
By Arlene Karidis, Waste360.
The school's influence stretches far beyond its campus where ongoing research in Costa Rica and other South American countries is exploring methods.
Anaerobic digestion facilities are popping up across the country, including some at college campuses.
By Arlene Karidis, Waste360.
The school's influence stretches far beyond its campus where ongoing research in Costa Rica and other South American countries is exploring methods.
Anaerobic digestion facilities are popping up across the country, including some at college campuses.
Michigan State University, in East Lansing, Mich., is leading with way with a facility that processes between 20,000 and 24,000 tons of food waste annually to generate 380 kilowatts of electricity every hour for the campus, up to 2,800,000 kwH annually.
But Michigan State’s influence stretches far beyond its campus where ongoing research in Costa Rica and other South American countries is exploring methods to address challenging waste streams specific to certain regions.
Icahn receives subpoena on RFS & presidential advisory roles
Houston, 8 November (Argus) — Federal investigators subpoenaed at least three companies for information on investor and former presidential adviser Carl Icahn's "activities relating to the Renewable Fuels Standard," according to corporate disclosures.
Houston, 8 November (Argus) — Federal investigators subpoenaed at least three companies for information on investor and former presidential adviser Carl Icahn's "activities relating to the Renewable Fuels Standard," according to corporate disclosures.
Icahn Enterprises, CVR Energy and CVR Refining were complying with inquiries by the Southern District of New York US Attorney's office, the companies said in quarterly statements.
Icahn was an outspoken critic of US biofuel blending mandates who served as what the administration described as an informal adviser on cutting regulation to President Donald Trump. He abruptly stepped down from that role in August. CVR Energy, in which Icahn holds an 82pc ownership interest, has pushed for changes to the mandates as the refiner's costs to comply with the program have climbed.
U.S. Gain hires Mike Bolin as West Coast Business Development Manager
Via USGasVehicles.com.
U.S. Gain, a division of U.S. Venture, Inc., has hired Mike Bolin as a business development manager to oversee current and future opportunities on the west coast in a continuing effort to grow the GAIN Clean Fuel compressed natural gas (CNG) network.
Via USGasVehicles.com.
U.S. Gain, a division of U.S. Venture, Inc., has hired Mike Bolin as a business development manager to oversee current and future opportunities on the west coast in a continuing effort to grow the GAIN Clean Fuel compressed natural gas (CNG) network.
In this position, Bolin will be responsible for continued education to fleets on the benefits of natural gas as a transportation fuel and the various options to access it using Gain’s current network, as well as building out customized solutions throughout the western region of the United States.
“Mike brings more than four decades of fleet knowledge, strategic foresight and customer contacts to our business,” said U.S. Gain President Mike Koel. “He’s a true thought leader, and we’re excited for him to join our team.”
Elementary Students Learn About Renewable Natural Gas with Help from SoCalGas Engineers and College Scholars
Via PRNewsWire.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- To interest students from underserved neighborhoods in STEM subjects, Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and Great Minds in STEM leaders spent today with about 100 fourth graders at Sunny Brae Avenue Elementary School in Winnetka, where Great Minds in STEM team members, SoCalGas engineers, and college students engaged students in hands-on STEM challenges related to natural gas pipeline safety and renewable natural gas. Photos of the event are available
Via PRNewsWire.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- To interest students from underserved neighborhoods in STEM subjects, Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and Great Minds in STEM leaders spent today with about 100 fourth graders at Sunny Brae Avenue Elementary School in Winnetka, where Great Minds in STEM team members, SoCalGas engineers, and college students engaged students in hands-on STEM challenges related to natural gas pipeline safety and renewable natural gas. Photos of the event are available
SoCalGas sponsored the program, "Viva Technology Student Day," created by Great Minds in STEM, a Los Angeles County-based national non-profit that focuses on student populations underrepresented in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields.
"These experiences show students that we need cutting-edge science to meet California's energy needs in the future," said Jimmie Cho, SoCalGas senior vice president of gas operations and system integrity. "We want to get students excited about the science of capturing renewable methane from sources like farm operations, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. Using that biogas both reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and creates additional renewable energy."
L.A., Long Beach ports adopts plan to speed up quest for cleaner air
By Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times.
The nation’s largest port complex approved a plan Thursday to slash air pollution by encouraging the phase-out of diesel trucks in favor of natural gas and, ultimately, zero-emissions trucks and cargo-handling equipment over the next two decades.
By Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times.
The nation’s largest port complex approved a plan Thursday to slash air pollution by encouraging the phase-out of diesel trucks in favor of natural gas and, ultimately, zero-emissions trucks and cargo-handling equipment over the next two decades.
The Clean Air Action Plan, unanimously adopted at a joint meeting of Los Angeles and Long Beach harbor commissioners, provides a framework for transforming the massive hub for freight-moving trucks, trains and ships to cleaner technologies through 2035. But it leaves many details undetermined, including who will pay for up to $14 billion in cleaner trucks and equipment and which industries will benefit.
The plan is the most significant and expensive environmental initiative yet by the ports, which have sought to distinguish themselves from competitors over the last decade by pioneering air quality improvements, some of which have been replicated by other seaports and enshrined by California regulators.