RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Massachusetts Senate Passes Bill to Increase Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard
June 18 (Renewables Now) - The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday night passed a clean energy bill that was welcomed by the industry.
The bill Increases the state's renewable energy portfolio standard by requiring power suppliers to buy an additional 3% of renewable energy annually, up from an additional 1% and removes the cap on solar net metering. The legislation further calls for additional offshore wind and hydropower procurement, according to a statement released by senator Sal DiDomenico, Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. It allows the Department of Energy Resources to recommend the procurement of up to 5,000 MW of aggregate offshore wind capacity by the end of 2035 and of more than 9,450,000 MWh of clean energy generation.
By Plamena Tisheva.
Why a minor change to how EPA makes rules could radically reduce environmental protection
On June 7, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt proposed changing the agency’s approach to this process in ways that sound sensible, but in fact are a radical departure from how government agencies have operated for decades.
By Joseph Aldy, The Conversation.
Since the Reagan administration, federal agencies have been required to produce cost-benefit analyses of their major regulations. These assessments are designed to ensure that regulators are pursuing actions that make society better off.
In my experience working on the White House economic team in the Clinton and Obama administrations, I found cost-benefit analysis provides a solid foundation for understanding the impacts of regulatory proposals. It also generates thoughtful discussion of ways to design rules to maximize net benefits to the public.
On June 7, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt proposed changing the agency’s approach to this process in ways that sound sensible, but in fact are a radical departure from how government agencies have operated for decades.
By Joseph Aldy, The Conversation.
Subcommittee on Environment Hearing to Examine the Future of Advanced Biofuels Under the Renewable Fuel Standard
The Subcommittee on Environment, chaired by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), today announced a hearing for Friday, June 22, 2018, at 9:15 a.m. in room 2322 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, “Advanced Biofuels Under the Renewable Fuel Standard: Current Status and Future Prospects.”
Next week, SubEnvironment will hold a hearing examining the current status of and future issues with the advanced biofuels component of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
“The RFS has made progress in developing advanced biofuels and delivering them to American consumers,” said Chairman Shimkus. “While conventional, corn ethanol commands much of the debate around the RFS, we cannot forget other parts of the program as we explore potential reforms to make the RFS better reflect our evolving transportation fuel needs.”
The Majority Memorandum, witness list and testimony, and a live webcast will be posted HERE as they’re made available.
EPA chief hints he could order more ethanol in fuel
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A week after the White House suspended its bid to reform the nation’s biofuels policy to aid oil refiners, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday dangled a tantalizing prospect to Midwest corn farmers, saying the agency has the power to expand sales of higher ethanol gasoline blends.
By Chris Prentice, Reuters.
Senate ag committee restores 2018 Farm Bill Energy Title funding
By Erin Voegele, Ethanol Producer Magazine.
On June 13, the Senate ag committee approved the its version of the 2018 Farm Bill with bipartisan support. The legislation includes an amendment offered by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., that restores mandatory funding to Farm Bill Energy Title programs. The legislation, officially titled the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, will now be considered by the full Senate.
Klobuchar offered the amendment during a June 13 committee meeting held on Farm Bill legislation. The amendment aims to restore mandatory funding for Energy Title programs to 2014 levels.
Overnight Energy: Pruitt faces new criticism from conservatives | GOP senator says Pruitt may need to resign
By Miranda Green & Timothy Cama, The Hill.
PRUITT'S CONSERVATIVE FIREWALL CRACKS: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Scott Pruitt is facing new criticism from conservative allies over his spending and ethics scandals.
Conservative commentator Laura Ingraham said Wednesday President Trump should fire Pruitt, while Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said Pruitt may need to step down.
Plugging dairies into a renewable future
A new Anaerobic Digestion project in California hopes to produce electricity and compressed natural gas for vehicle fuel.
By Diane Mettler, Manure Manager.
This February was the celebration of a great partnership of California dairies and California Bioenergy (CalBio).
The ribbon cutting ceremony involving three new Kern County dairy digester projects was attended by not only those from CalBio and the California dairies – Lakeview Farms Dairy, West Star North Dairy, Carlos Echeverria & Sons Dairy – but also Secretary Karen Ross of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; State Assembly Member, Rudy Salas; Laurie ten Hope, deputy director for the California Energy Commission’s Research & Development Division; plus CalBio’s CEO, Ross Buckenham, and president, Neil Black.
States Take the Lead on Renewable Natural Gas
BCSE Technology Brief:
The policy landscape is changing for renewable natural gas, and market opportunities for the domestic, renewable, clean fuel and energy source are expanding as well. Under the leadership of one of BCSE’s partner organizations, the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, states are advancing policies that promote the use of renewable natural gas (RNG). These policies are needed to create market certainty, which is necessary to drive greater development, deployment and utilization of RNG.
Thirty-seven states and DC have Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) programs, which can be met in part by producing renewable electricity from RNG. Many states and regions are also adopting policies that facilitate the use of RNG for transportation fuel. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) is the California regulation that requires a 10% reduction in transportation fuel carbon intensity by 2020. Governors of CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PN, RI, and VT signed a 2009 memorandum of understanding committing to develop a regional low carbon fuel standard. Many states are considering new policies to create new markets for RNG, such as California’s Senate Bill 1440, which would establish a biomethane procurement goal for gas corporations.
RNG Coalition provides thought leadership for G7 Summit
By RNG Coalition.
The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) has been selected by Climate Change—The New Economy(CCTNE), the leading publication on Climate Change at the G7 and COP Summits, to write the lead statement on the role of policy in promoting sustainable energy practices for this year’s G7 Summit in Canada.
“The honor of being requested by CCTNE to provide insight for international policy leaders at the G7 Summit is a testament to the policy platform and advocacy voice our organization and members have established for the renewable natural gas industry across North America,” said Johannes Escudero, founder and CEO of the RNG Coalition.
The RNG Coalition’s piece in the publication, authored by Director of Public Affairs Marcus Gillette, exhibits the growth of the North American renewable natural gas industry in recent years as a leading example of the success of national clean fuels programs like the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard and California Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
Hawaii just passed a law that plans to make the state carbon neutral by 2045
The plan is the most ambitious emissions reduction and renewable energy plan of any state in the country.
By Adele Peters, Fast Company.
In a little less than three decades, Hawaii plans to be carbon neutral–the most ambitious climate goal in the United States. Governor David Ige signed a bill today committing to make the state fully carbon neutral by 2045, along with a second bill that will use carbon offsets to help fund planting trees throughout Hawaii. A third bill requires new building projects to consider how high sea levels will rise in their engineering decisions.
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