RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.SoCalGas Plans to Use Renewable Gas At Vehicle Fueling Stations
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — The Southern California Gas Co. announced Monday it will soon begin using renewable natural gas for the first time at its 25 utility-owned natural gas vehicle fueling stations across its service territory, as well as at six fueling stations in the San Diego area.
The utility last month received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission for a pilot program.
By CBS Broadcasting.
BP, Republic Services, Aria Energy Start $25 Million Trash-To-Gas RNG Project
BP Plc, Republic Services Inc. and a private equity-backed partner have started a $25 million plant in Oklahoma that will produce gas from a landfill as an alternative to fossil fuels for trucks and buses.
The Southeast Oklahoma City project will make the equivalent of about 22,280 gallons of gasoline per day, Republic Services said in a Sept. 21, emailed statement.
Project underway to recycle New York food waste in Oneida, Herkimer counties
UTICA — Of the roughly 169,000 tons of municipal solid waste that goes to a landfill in Ava annually, Bill Rabbia said about 13.7 percent of that is food scraps.
Food scraps are discarded leftovers or food no longer suitable for eating, said Rabbia, executive director of the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority. This is food well past its sell-by date. The remains of a restaurant meal. The unused bits, such as peels or cores, from kitchen preparation.
By Greg Mason, Observer-Dispatch.
Oregon Department of Energy Publishes Inventory of Renewable Natural Gas Potential in the State
The Low Carbon Fuel Could Replace Up to 20 Percent of State’s Annual Natural Gas Usage
SALEM — The Oregon Department of Energy today announced a new inventory report of biogas and renewable natural gas potential in Oregon. RNG is a lower carbon fuel produced using methane from long-term waste streams like wastewater, agricultural manure, landfill waste, food waste, and residual material from forest and agricultural harvests.
In 2017, the Oregon Legislature directed ODOE to conduct an inventory of potential biogas and RNG production, feedstock or resource quantities and locations, and supply chain infrastructure. The department found that depending on the method used to produce the RNG, Oregon could have enough resources to replace 10 to 20 percent of the state’s total yearly use of natural gas, the bulk of which is currently imported from other states.
Governor Brown Signs RNG Coalition Bill to Facilitate Pipeline Integration of RNG
Sacramento, CA - California Governor Jerry Brown signed RNG Coalition-sponsored bill AB 3187 (Tim Grayson) today at the state Capitol. The bill requires the California Public Utilities Commission, by no later than July 1, 2019, to open a proceeding to consider funding biomethane interconnection infrastructure through a gas corporation's utility rates.
“Renewable natural gas has many environmental advantages because it can replace fossil sources of natural gas in homes and businesses,” said Assemblymember Grayson. “This legislation will help equip biomethane producers and utilities to further integrate this clean energy technology in order to meet California’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.”
"With California's organic waste diversion and methane reduction mandates fast approaching, it is critical that we consider policies now to enable the development of renewable natural gas (RNG) facilities in California," said Nina Kapoor, RNG Coalition Director of State Government Affairs. "AB 3187 directs the CPUC to consider addressing the single largest cost barrier – interconnection costs - and enables the industry to invest in and construct RNG facilities to lead us to meet our climate change goals. The RNG Coalition looks forward to the opportunity to advocate for increased interconnection incentives before the California Public Utilities Commission next year."
U.S. EPA Updates RFS Website to Improve Transparency & Information on Small Refinery Exemptions
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program website to increase transparency surrounding the program. The updated website includes new data and information for both stakeholders and the public.
“For the first time, EPA is providing new information to the public on small refinery exemptions and RIN trading,” said EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Increasing transparency will improve implementation of the RFS and provide stakeholders and the regulated community the certainty and clarity they need to make important business and compliance decisions.”
“In our corn-growing community, the RFS program is one of the top issues people are talking about. We hear concerns about lack of transparency around the issuance of small refinery waivers and we are hopeful these changes will put everyone on a level playing field to receive the information at the same time,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “Farmers stay on top of every bit of news that comes out about the RFS and their industry, so providing them with more information is a priority. Adding timely updates to EPA’s website will be important to USDA’s customers, the people of American agriculture. We have had a great working relationship with Acting EPA Administrator Wheeler and we are pleased to continue it with this progress on RFS information.”
Can Sanitation go green?
About 20 years ago, as childhood asthma was raging in the South Bronx, Juan Corcino found it hard to breathe on the way to his job in Hunts Point. The culprit was all around him: diesel exhaust– spewing delivery trucks, including those belonging to his employer, Manhattan Beer Distributors.
So when the company's chief executive, Simon Bergson, gave him the task of converting the trucks to much cleaner natural gas—with the help of federal clean-air incentives—he was ready. He had just one problem: Nobody manufactured natural gas trucks.
By Matthew Flamm, Crain’s New York Business.
SoCalGas to Offer Renewable Natural Gas at its Fueling Stations for the First Time
More low-carbon, clean-air fuel to become available for cars and trucks
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced it will soon begin using renewable natural gas for the first time at the 25 utility-owned natural gas vehicle fueling stations across its service territory, as well as at six fueling stations in the San Diego area. Last month, the utility received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for a pilot program to purchase the renewable fuel and capture the additional environmental credits generated. Today, it published a Request for Offer (RFO), and expects to complete gas purchase agreements in the near future. Photos of SoCalGas natural gas fueling stations are available here.
UC Riverside Study Finds Renewable Natural Gas Can Help California
UC Riverside study finds California can replace up to 5 percent of its natural gas supply using existing raw materials and infrastructure.
Riverside, CA – The University of California, Riverside’s Center for Renewable Natural Gas has released a study evaluating California’s renewable methane production potential from in-state resources through landfill gas upgrading and anaerobic digestion. The study shows that renewable natural gas from existing resources can play a key role in helping the state achieve its climate and renewable energy goals.
Wärtsilä biogas upgrading plant will significantly reduce methane emissions from US dairy facility
Puregas Solutions, a part of the technology group Wärtsilä, has been contracted to supply a turnkey biogas upgrading plant to the USA. The plant will upgrade an existing anaerobic digester (AD) to produce biomethane. It has been ordered by a leader in sustainable agricultural practices, located in the state of Oregon. The order was booked in the second quarter of 2018.
The Puregas solution will process 3100 cfm (cubic feet per minute) of biogas from the anaerobic digestion of manure from more than 50,000 dairy cows. The renewable natural gas will then be injected into a pipeline for use as transportation fuel in California, the adjoining state. The project generates Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) under the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, as well as credits under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).
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