RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.L'ORÉAL USA'S New Kentucky Renewable Natural Gas Agreement Furthers Commitment to Diversified Energy Portfolio, Offers Financially Sustainable Model to Support New RNG Projects in the Future
L'ORÉAL USA Announces Innovative Approach to Achieve Carbon Neutrality for its Operations Facilities by 2019
New York, N.Y. – March 1, 2018 – Today, L’Oréal USA announced its plans to achieve carbon neutrality in 2019 for all 21 of its U.S. manufacturing and distribution facilities with a financially sustainable approach that could potentially serve as a model to support new renewable natural gas (RNG) projects in the future. In order to reach this milestone, L’Oréal USA is adding to its diversified energy portfolio with RNG purchased from a new processing facility in Kentucky.
L'ORÉAL USA Announces Innovative Approach to Achieve Carbon Neutrality for its Operations Facilities by 2019
New York, N.Y. – March 1, 2018 – Today, L’Oréal USA announced its plans to achieve carbon neutrality in 2019 for all 21 of its U.S. manufacturing and distribution facilities with a financially sustainable approach that could potentially serve as a model to support new renewable natural gas (RNG) projects in the future. In order to reach this milestone, L’Oréal USA is adding to its diversified energy portfolio with RNG purchased from a new processing facility in Kentucky. The company currently has 17 renewable energy installations across the country, including large on-site solar arrays in Arkansas, New Jersey and Kentucky as well as wind turbines in Texas. The RNG purchased from the new project alone is expected to eliminate the carbon equivalent of 1.8 million gallons of gasoline consumed per year.
“Achieving carbon neutrality for all of our Operations facilities furthers our commitment to being a sustainability leader in the United States,” said Frédéric Rozé, President and CEO of L’Oréal USA. “We have seen that a dedication to sustainability fosters innovation, inspires creativity and builds a strong team spirit. This new milestone can be credited to our passionate teams and their vision in finding a new renewable energy approach that benefits one of our local communities while being a long-term, financially viable solution.
RFS News Alert: No Deal Reached in White House Meeting
"No deal," commented Senator Chuck Grassley (IA-R) after the conclusion of a meeting this morning hosted by President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss potential compromises to resolve concerns related to compliance obligations with the Renewable Fuel Standard.
The meeting included Senators representing both corn-ethanol and oil refinery interests, including Senators Grassley, Ernst (IA-R), Cruz (TX-R), and Toomey (PA-R), and was also scheduled to include agency heads of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Agriculture.
White House and agency representatives confirmed the meeting occurred, but declined to comment immediately following its conclusion.
Read more HERE.
Stay tuned for more follow up details in the RNG NEWS Brief later this week.
Local officials recognize the upgrade in purity from conditioning raw biogas into renewable natural gas, in considering Pennsylvania RNG project
"But once it’s refined, as Meadowbrook would do using physical processes, to what the EPA calls renewable natural gas, it resembles the same stuff shale gas drillers extract from the ground."
By Jon O'Connell, The Times-Turbine.
DSNY finalizes next wave of commercial organics mandate
New York's Department of Sanitation (DSNY) published final rules to expand its existing commercial organics diversion mandate, with slight amendments to the originally proposed version. The rules will take effect in August, with official enforcement set for February 2019.
These rules will cover restaurants with floor areas of at least 15,000 square feet (up from 7,000), chain establishments with at least 100 locations in the city (up from 50) and food retailers such as grocery stores with at least 25,000 square feet of floor space (up from 10,000).
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.
US AD plant hitting the auction block
Following a constant stream of debate, legal battles and licensing issues since its inception in 2015, the stakeholders of a US anaerobic digester plant have elected to sell all of the facility’s equipment through an online auction.
By Bioenergy Insight.
Renewable gas pivotal to reaching net-zero GHG in Europe, as it is in North America
If Europe is to reduce it greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by the middle of the century, renewable gas used in existing gas infrastructure could play an important role, according to a newly published study.
By Bioenergy Insight.
To comply with the Paris Agreement to keep global warming below 2°C, Europe must meet this net zero GHG goal.
The new study, published by the Gas for Climate initiative, aims to set out a plan to meet this target in a cost-effective way.
California, Ontario & Quebec launch joint cap-and-trade auction to battle climate change
NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The U.S. state of California and two Canadian provinces kicked off a cross-border auction of greenhouse gas emission credits on Wednesday, their first joint effort to buy and sell in the “cap and trade” market to fight global warming, experts said.
By Sebastian Melo, Reuters.
Clean200 report recognizes Republic Services & waste companies for clean energy production
The latest "Clean200" list of publicly traded companies "that are leading the way with solutions for the transition to a clean energy future" includes multiple names from the waste and recycling industry in its Q1 2018 update. This list is compiled by the nonprofit As You Sow and research firm Corporate Knights.
Republic Services ranked 49th, with an estimated market capitalization of $22.25 billion. An estimated $1.6 billion of its revenue was generated from "clean" energy.
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.
Connecticut to phase down value of biomass, landfill gas RECs
On Feb. 8, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection finalized its Comprehensive Energy Strategy, which aims to build an energy system that lowers costs for homeowners and businesses while reducing carbon emissions to help achieve the state’s climate change goals.
Regarding bioenergy, the CES includes a phase-down of biomass and landfill gas renewable energy credits (RECs) in Class 1 Renewable Portfolio Standard.
By Erin Voegele, Biomass Magazine.
Arizona Utility Commissioner calls for cost analysis of proposed clean energy plan
- Arizona utility Commissioner Andy Tobin has called for an audit of the costs and benefits associated with raising the state's clean energy standard, including requiring utilities to get 80% of their electricity from renewables and nuclear by 2050 and deploy 3000 MW of energy storage by 2030.
Tobin's Arizona Energy Modernization Plan also calls for reforms in utility planning processes, policies to boost energy efficiency, electric vehicles and biomass, and the deployment of 3 GW of storage by 2030.
Tobin wants the Residential Utility Consumer Office to conduct "a full audit and benefit-cost analysis" of the Arizona Energy Modernization Plan, specifically comparing it to costs associated with utilities' current integrated resource plans and 15-year forecasts.
By Robert Walton, Utility Dive.
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