RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.EPA leader Scott Pruitt resigns after scandals engulf his agency
By Tom DiChristopher, CNBC.
- EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned on Thursday after allegations of workplace retaliation, wasteful spending and self-dealing mounted over several months.
- The flow of negative headlines has been almost constant since it was revealed Pruitt rented a Capitol Hill condo linked to an energy lobbyist on favorable terms.
- Pruitt stoked anger among Democrats and environmentalists for leading Trump's charge to roll back Obama-era regulations and casting doubt on humanity's role in climate change.
Embattled EPA head Pruitt resigns
Scott Pruitt will resign from his position leading the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday, following months of high-profile controversies regarding his spending, ethics and management at the agency.
In a tweet Thursday, President Trump confirmed Pruitt's departure, saying he's accepted the administrator's resignation.
By Timothy Cama & Miranda Green, The Hill.
RNG Coalition Statement Regarding EPA's Triennial Report Review of the RFS Program
Statement from Johannes Escudero, CEO, the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
Regarding EPA’s Report 341491
June 29, 2018 - Johannes Escudero, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition), issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) report on the environmental impact of the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS):
“The Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) industry provides over 95% of the cellulosic biofuel used in the RFS program. Redeeming society’s refuse for productive end-use epitomizes sustainability. The cellulosic biofuel being produced by North America’s RNG industry is good for the environment.”
“It’s worth noting that EPA acknowledges it did not consider lifecycle greenhouse gas emission impacts of biofuel for this report, which is incongruous considering that a biofuel’s eligibility for the RFS is evaluated by considering its lifecycle GHG benefits. EPA’s lifecycle analysis distinguishes renewable natural gas transportation fuel from all sources as among the biofuels with the most environmental benefit.”
“RNG production facilities capture methane emissions that would otherwise be flared or escape into the atmosphere from waste streams at landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, and anaerobic digesters and convert the methane into a fuel that is interchangeable with conventional natural gas. RNG is transported inter- and intra- state using existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure, and is used to fuel natural gas vehicles, such as municipal bus fleets and waste haulers.”
“The production and utilization of RNG as a transportation fuel not only helps mitigate methane emissions, it also helps sequester carbon from certain sources. Replacing diesel engines with natural gas engines fueled by RNG achieves an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. RNG is already accepted in the marketplace and is a win-win if you are advocating for both a clean environment and clean economy today.”
About the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
The RNG Coalition is the trade association for the RNG industry, representing over 130 companies and organizations that are involved in production, distribution and marketing of RNG in North America. Over 95% of the fuel produced and consumed to meet the RFS program’s cellulosic biofuel requirement is RNG.
SoCalGas, Énergir, GRDF and GRTgaz Announce Collaboration on Low-Carbon and Renewable Gas Initiatives During World Gas Conference
WASHINGTON, June 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today joined Énergir, a Canadian natural gas utility, along with French utilities GRDF and GRTgaz to announce a new collaboration aimed at advancing the research and development of renewable natural gas and technologies such as power-to-gas. The collaboration will focus on research and development, public policy, and outreach. SoCalGas Vice President of Customer Solutions and Strategy Sharon Tomkins made the announcement alongside Énergir Senior Vice President of Development, Communities, Corporate Affairs and Operational Safety Martin Imbleau, Laurent Théry, International and Business Development Director for GRTgaz and Christophe Wagner, International Director for GRDF, during the World Gas Conference in Washington D.C.
"Advances in natural gas technologies have helped clean our air and helped reduce emissions linked to climate change," said Sharon Tomkins, vice president of customer solutions and strategy for SoCalGas. "We are excited to collaborate with our French and Canadian counterparts to speed up the development of the next generation of innovations including renewable natural gas, solar-powered hydrogen generation, fuel cells, power-to-gas and other technologies. Together the work we're doing today will help provide reliable and affordable natural gas service to millions of families and businesses for decades to come."
Increased Focus on Renewable Natural Gas at World Gas Conference 2018
NEWS RELEASE
June 28, 2018, Washington, DC – Two speakers from the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) and release of a new whitepaper are helping highlight the increased focus on biogas-derived renewable natural gas (RNG) at this week’s 27thWorld Gas Conference, WGC 2018.
RNG Coalition CEO and co-founder Johannes Escudero speaks today, June 28, on Renewable Natural Gas as a Global Opportunity.
“Redeeming our organic waste-streams by converting them to renewable natural gas epitomizes sustainability,” said Escudero. “Increased RNG development, deployment and use leads to greater adoption of the renewables we use to drive, heat and power homes and businesses, while ensuring the reliability of our electric grid and decarbonizing our gas distribution systems,” he added.
RNG Coalition Director of Federal Legislative Affairs, Anne Steckel, spoke June 27 on the topic of the new whitepaper released by the organization at WGC 2018: “Challenges and Opportunities for Increased Development and Utilization of Renewable Natural Gas.”
“Production and use of renewable natural gas has the long-term potential to make up a significant portion of our natural gas consumption, while making a long-term environmental impact by reducing emissions and making our energy production and use more sustainable,” said Steckel.
The conference program’s increasing spotlight on RNG mirrors the increased growth in industry production in the WGC 2018 host country. In April, the RNG Coalition released a new map and database of RNG production facilities in North America, which reveals thatthere are now at least 77 operational North American facilities in the U.S. and Canada, representing over 85% growth from the 41 projects built between 1982 and 2014.
The World Gas Conference is held every three years. This year’s conference is themed Fueling the Future and marks the first time the global gas industry event has been held in a country that is both the world’s largest gas consumer and gas producer.
About the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
The RNG Coalition is the trade association representing over 130 companies and organizations dedicated to the advancement of RNG, including as an ultra-clean, domestically-produced, renewable fuel in North America. The RNG industry captures and converts methane (raw biogas) emitted by and captured from organic waste streams – such as those from wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, livestock and agricultural digesters, and commercial food waste facilities – and converts the biogas into RNG. RNG is fully fungible with conventional natural gas, and is used as a direct substitute for most commercial, industrial and residential natural gas applications.
When Does It Make Sense to Invest in RNG?
Brad Douville, president of Greenlane Biogas, advises on fleets’ main considerations before buying into RNG.
More than 60 percent of new refuse collection trucks purchased today have natural gas engines that are suitable for 100 percent renewable natural gas (RNG). Fleet owners switching from diesel to these RNG trucks are doing it to save in fuel and maintenance costs, to tap into Renewable Identification Number credits (RINs) or Low-Carbon Fuel Standard credits (LCFS) and/or for more leverage to win municipal contracts.
In this Q&A, Brad Douville, president of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based Greenlane Biogas, a biogas-to-biomethane upgrade company, advises on fleets’ main considerations before buying into RNG.
Exclusive: Trump's EPA ignored Energy Department calls to limit biofuel waivers
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency has consistently ignored recommendations from the Department of Energy to reject or limit waivers to oil refiners seeking exemptions from nation’s biofuels law, according to five sources familiar with the matter.
By Chris Prentice & Jarrett Renshaw.
Forbes Names Republic Services One of the World's Most Innovative Companies
PHOENIX, June 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) has been recognized as one of the most innovative companies in the world by Forbes Magazine. Ranked 89th, Republic is one of only two recycling and solid waste management companies on the 2018 list. Forbes selects its annual 100 World's Most Innovative Companies list by identifying companies that investors believe to be forward thinking, who will continue to achieve profitable new growth through future advances.
Proposed 2019 Cellulosic Biofuel Volumes Will Increase RNG Project Investment and Development
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2018
Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposed 2019 Renewable Fuel Volume Obligations (RVO) under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).
“The EPA’s proposed 2019 cellulosic biofuel RVO of 381 million gallons represents a 32% increase over the 2018 level,” said Johannes Escudero, CEO of the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition). “We are pleased that the proposal recognizes that the RNG industry is continuing to grow under the RFS program. A 381-million-gallon cellulosic biofuel RVO will provide a policy framework that should allow renewable natural gas (RNG) stakeholders to continue developing, and access the capital necessary to invest in, build and service new RNG production facilities.”
The RNG industry produces more than 95% of the fuel that is used to meet the RFS program’s cellulosic biofuel requirement. Since 2011, the RNG industry has developed over 45 facilities capable of producing cellulosic biofuel, and there are currently an additional 50 projects under construction or development. The industry’s cellulosic biofuel production has increased from approximately 33 million gallons in 2014 to over 240 million gallons in 2017.
“We appreciate the fact that the EPA’s proposed cellulosic biofuel RVO reflects continued growth in the RNG industry. We look forward to working constructively with the administration to ensure that the methodology used to set the final cellulosic biofuel requirement accurately reflects the RNG industry’s investments and that the program is administered in a way that allows for these gallons to be used in the marketplace,” concluded Escudero.
About the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
The RNG Coalitionis the trade association representing over 130 companies and organizations dedicated to the advancement of RNG, including as an ultra-clean, domestically-produced, renewable fuel in North America. The RNG industry captures and converts methane (raw biogas) emitted by and captured from organic waste streams such as those from landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, livestock and agricultural digesters, and commercial food waste facilities, and converts the biogas into RNG. RNG is fully fungible with conventional natural gas, and is used as a direct substitute for most commercial, industrial and residential natural gas applications. Over 95% of the fuel produced and consumed to meet the RFS program’s cellulosic biofuel requirement is RNG.
NTMWD celebrates completion of renewable energy gas plant in Melissa
Officials with the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) held a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours on Wednesday, June 20 at the new Morrow Renewable High BTU Gas Plant operating at the district’s landfill in Melissa. The state-of-the-art plant captures landfill gas (methane and carbon dioxide) and converts it to clean, renewable natural gas.
The plant is a result of a public-private partnership between NTMWD and Morrow Renewables. Construction began in May of 2017 and the plant became operational in December. Morrow Renewables built and operates the facility and sells the renewable natural gas. NTMWD receives a royalty on the gas produced and a share of the revenue generated which goes toward offsetting landfill operation costs.
By NTMWD.
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