RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Colorado calls for applications for possible Anaerobic Digester, RNG projects
On January 3, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a Request for Application (RFA) for Recycling Grants entitled "Building Opportunities to Maximize Waste Diversion and Create Jobs in Colorado."
The purpose of this RFA is to fund implementation projects that lead to new opportunities to increase waste diversion as well as to create jobs. Projects may focus on recycling, composting, waste minimization, anaerobic digestion, repurposing, or reuse for a wide variety of materials.
On January 3, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a Request for Application (RFA) for Recycling Grants entitled "Building Opportunities to Maximize Waste Diversion and Create Jobs in Colorado."
The purpose of this RFA is to fund implementation projects that lead to new opportunities to increase waste diversion as well as to create jobs. Projects may focus on recycling, composting, waste minimization, anaerobic digestion, repurposing, or reuse for a wide variety of materials.
In an effort to work toward achieving the goals stated above, the department has developed a tiered system to prioritize the types of projects that will best help the state improve its waste diversion rate and create economic opportunities. Projects that meet the criteria in the first tier will be prioritized over those that meet the criteria in the second and third tiers. The tiers are outlined below.
Interested companies and prospective applicants should submit any initial inquiries in writing by January 17 (3 pm MST). The application submittal deadline is March 2.
How Smithfield Foods partnered with Roeslein Alternative Energy to save one of the largest hog farms in the U.S.
By Betsy Freese, Successful Farming at Agriculture.com.
The history of the former Premium Standard Farms (PSF) hog operation in northern Missouri is as tortured as any in the modern swine industry. (See the 30-year time line at the bottom of this story for details.)
When Smithfield Foods bought the formerly bankrupt 221,000-sow complex in 2006, PSF was the second-largest pork producer in the U.S. (behind Smithfield). It was bogged down in nuisance lawsuits, the barns were in disrepair, and pig performance was poor.
By Betsy Freese, Successful Farming at Agriculture.com.
The history of the former Premium Standard Farms (PSF) hog operation in northern Missouri is as tortured as any in the modern swine industry. (See the 30-year time line at the bottom of this story for details.)
When Smithfield Foods bought the formerly bankrupt 221,000-sow complex in 2006, PSF was the second-largest pork producer in the U.S. (behind Smithfield). It was bogged down in nuisance lawsuits, the barns were in disrepair, and pig performance was poor.
Keeping the operation running was a struggle for several years after the purchase. One industry analyst told Successful Farming magazine in 2011, “I advised them to get a bunch of bulldozers and push it in a hole and walk away. That would be cheaper than feeding it.”
Smithfield stuck with the business, now called Smithfield Hog Production - Missouri, bringing in a new general manager, Michael Rainwater, more than six years ago and infusing substantial capital to turn the operation around.
Brazil establishes national biofuels policy
By Erin Voegele, Biomass Magazine.
Brazilian President Michel Temer has approved legislation creating RenovaBio, a new national biofuels policy. The law was published in the official federal gazette of Brazil on Dec. 26. The Brazilian Senate approved the bill on Dec. 12.
RenovaBio aims to increase the use of all biofuels, including ethanol, biodiesel and biomethane, in Brazil with the aim of increasing energy security and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
How EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program has supported LFG to Energy projects
By Arlene Karidis, Waste 360.
As of 2016, there were 648 landfill gas-to-energy (LFGE) projects in the U.S., and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) has supported many of them. Its partners are communities, landfill owners and operators, utilities, power marketers, states, project developers, tribes and nonprofit organizations.
By Arlene Karidis, Waste 360.
As of 2016, there were 648 landfill gas-to-energy (LFGE) projects in the U.S., and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) has supported many of them. Its partners are communities, landfill owners and operators, utilities, power marketers, states, project developers, tribes and nonprofit organizations.
The voluntary program, which launched in 1994, has grown to 1,100 partners who tap into varied supports, sometimes to develop first-of-a-kind projects that have gone on to serve as industry models.
“As the industry matured, LMOP has focused on the development and dissemination of technical tools and resources, including a comprehensive database on landfill gas-to-energy projects and candidate landfills, a cost-estimating tool that provides an initial economic feasibly analysis for developing a landfill gas-to-energy project and a handbook that provides an overview of energy project development,” says Kirsten Cappel, LMOP program manager.
U.S. Gain hires new marketing manager Stephanie Lowney
By USGasVehicles.com.
U.S. Gain, a division of U.S. Venture, Inc., is pleased to announce the hiring of Stephanie Lowney as the division’s marketing manager.
By USGasVehicles.com.
U.S. Gain, a division of U.S. Venture, Inc., is pleased to announce the hiring of Stephanie Lowney as the division’s marketing manager.
In the position, Lowney will focus on helping customers achieve their sustainability objectives by communicating the environmental and economic benefits of implementing GAIN Clean Fuels within customers’ operations, and sharing the differentiated value proposition to position GAIN as the trusted clean fuel advisor and partner through a variety of strategic marketing initiatives.
Longmont, CO Awarded $1M for Project to Convert Sewage Treatment Gas to RNG Fuel
By City of Longmont, Colorado.
In 2018, the City of Longmont will begin construction of a project at its Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) to make fuel from gas produced in the treatment of Longmont's sewage. The project will convert dirty biogas (generated through anaerobic digestion) into clean Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). The RNG produced will then be used to power the City’s trash trucks. Longmont will be the first city on Colorado's eastern slope to convert biogas to vehicle fuel.
By City of Longmont, Colorado.
In 2018, the City of Longmont will begin construction of a project at its Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) to make fuel from gas produced in the treatment of Longmont's sewage. The project will convert dirty biogas (generated through anaerobic digestion) into clean Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). The RNG produced will then be used to power the City’s trash trucks. Longmont will be the first city on Colorado's eastern slope to convert biogas to vehicle fuel.
The project will require new biogas cleaning equipment at the WWTP and fueling infrastructure. To support this effort, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs recently awarded the City with a $1,000,000 grant to offset a portion of the capital costs required. Upon completion of the RNG fueling station in 2019, 11 of the City’s 16 diesel trash trucks will be replaced with trucks capable of using RNG fuel (this change-out aligns with the existing replacement schedule for those trucks). The remaining five diesel trucks will be replaced in 2021. The Colorado Regional Air Quality Council awarded the City with a grant for $35,000 per truck ($385,000 total) to cover 80% of the difference in cost between an RNG truck and a diesel truck.
When the project is complete, it is estimated that the City will be offsetting over 60,000 gallons of fossil fuels annually, reducing greenhouse gases by nearly 800 metric tons of CO2-eq per year. The project will also eliminate the variability in fuel costs for trash services and provide a revenue stream to fund future WWTP projects through the sale of federal renewable fuel credits.
The RNG fueling station is an example of the City pursuing an innovative project that provides economic value to the community while also aligning with multiple goals in the Envision Longmont & Sustainability Plans. Learn more about these goals at LongmontColorado.gov/community/sustainability.
Plans for redevelopment of Hartford, CT recycling facility call for both Anaerobic Digestion and Waste-to-Energy
By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive.
Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection has selected the Sacyr Rooney Recovery Team to redevelop Hartford's Materials Innovation and Recycle Authority (MIRA) waste-to-energy facility, as reported by the Hartford Courant. The team comprises the Spanish company Sacry, Manhattan Construction Group, Synagro and CWPM.
By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive.
Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection has selected the Sacyr Rooney Recovery Team to redevelop Hartford's Materials Innovation and Recycle Authority (MIRA) waste-to-energy facility, as reported by the Hartford Courant. The team comprises the Spanish company Sacry, Manhattan Construction Group, Synagro and CWPM.
The plan calls for recycling an estimated 40% of incoming waste, either through anaerobic digestion, composting or enhanced recycling technologies. The remainder would be processed via combustion. Sacyr Rooney must now reach a final agreement with Hartford, which DEEP hopes will happen by August, before the plan can proceed. he developer would need a year to obtain permits and two years for construction, with a target of 2022 for full operation.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin promised to fight the plan or negotiate for additional environmental protections and higher payments to the city. Bronin said that incinerating and processing trash could not be "the highest and best use for approximately 100 acres of riverfront land." DEEP officials say the developer's plan would result in lower tipping fees and contract rates for customers.
Twin Cities, MN region struggles with capacity for organic waste
By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive.
Compost facilities in the Twin Cities region are struggling with capacity and material management, as reported by the Star Tribune. Data from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency shows that food waste being composted in the region has nearly quadrupled since 2010.
By Cody Boteler, Waste Dive.
Compost facilities in the Twin Cities region are struggling with capacity and material management, as reported by the Star Tribune. Data from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency shows that food waste being composted in the region has nearly quadrupled since 2010.
Most compostable material in the region goes to just two facilities in the cities of Shakopee and Rosemount. Specialized Environmental Technologies (SET), the facility in Rosemount, is working to double its capacity for food waste, but Kevin Nordby, a co-owner of the company, appears pessimistic. "That capacity is basically going to be full as soon as I finish the construction," Nordby told the Star Tribune.
Nora Goldstein, editor of BioCycle, told Waste Dive these kinds of capacity challenges can happen depending on how well cities or regions prepare their organics infrastructure before implementing diversion goals. "But it's not necessarily like you need to step in and build 500-ton-a-day facilities," she said. "It's really looking at the capabilities and the infrastructure that you have. That's where it's this combination of anaerobic digestion and composting, in cities."
Element Markets, LLC Recognized by Environmental Finance for Work in Biogas & Renewable Fuel Marketplace
Element Markets tops Environmental Finance's annual market ranking with three wins in the Renewable Identification Certificates category.
By Element Markets, via PRNewsWire.
HOUSTON, Jan. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In the 2017 18th Annual Environmental Finance Market Rankings, Element Markets, LLC ("Element Markets") was honored for its work in the renewable fuel credit marketplace with three awards:
- Best Trading Company – Renewable Identification Certificates
- Best Advisory – Renewable Identification Certificates
- Best Broker - Renewable Identification Certificates
Element Markets tops Environmental Finance's annual market ranking with three wins in the Renewable Identification Certificates category.
By Element Markets, via PRNewsWire.
HOUSTON, Jan. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In the 2017 18th Annual Environmental Finance Market Rankings, Element Markets, LLC ("Element Markets") was honored for its work in the renewable fuel credit marketplace with three awards:
- Best Trading Company – Renewable Identification Certificates
- Best Advisory – Renewable Identification Certificates
- Best Broker - Renewable Identification Certificates
"Element Markets is one of the largest independent generators of D3 RINs and renewable natural gas-based LCFS Credits in the US. We have worked closely with renewable natural gas producers and obligated parties over the years to create long-term solutions designed to reduce volatility and manage risk in the renewable fuel credit markets. Given that we were nominated and recognized by our peers and clients, these awards are especially meaningful to us," said Angela Schwarz, President and CEO of Element Markets.
Xergi biogas plant wins Sustainable Ireland Award
By Xergi.
The biogas plant in Northern Ireland, Tully Quarry, close to the town of Ballymena, is currently producing biogas from 100 per cent chicken litter. At the awards ceremony Sustainable Ireland Awards, the unique Xergi project won the award for the year's best project in the energy production category.
By Xergi.
The biogas plant in Northern Ireland, Tully Quarry, close to the town of Ballymena, is currently producing biogas from 100 per cent chicken litter. At the awards ceremony Sustainable Ireland Awards, the unique Xergi project won the award for the year's best project in the energy production category.
It was a very excited director, Kevin Fitzduff, from the company Stream BioEnergy Ltd, who received the award "Best Energy Generation Award" when the year's most sustainable projects on the Irish island were in the spotlight at the awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belfast.
The awards ceremony is organised by the magazine Sustainable Ireland, which focuses on sustainable solutions on the Irish island.
"It has taken eight years to put the project together, and I'm very pleased that we finally got the plant up and running. We are producing energy now, and we are very pleased that we were nominated," said Kevin Fitzduff at the awards ceremony.
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