RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Liberty Utilities proposes renewable natural gas project at Bethlehem landfill
By MICHAEL COUSINEAU, New Hampshire Union Leader
Liberty Utilities announced Thursday it is proposing a new renewable natural gas production facility at the Bethlehem landfill that it says will lower gas bills for New Hampshire customers starting next summer.
“We intend for this project to be the first of many in New Hampshire, and Liberty Utilities plans to be at the center of this growing local clean energy industry,” said Susan Fleck, president of Liberty Utilities' New Hampshire operations.
“Our team is currently working with communities across New Hampshire on similar projects, and we hope to announce more New Hampshire RNG projects in the future,” Fleck said.
New California Law Authorizes Biomethane Procurement Program
Legislation aims to provide cost-effective means of reducing short-lived climate pollutant emissions
Sacramento, CA – September 26, 2018 – A new law in California will authorize the state to adopt a biomethane procurement program if it is found to be cost-effective, beneficial to ratepayers, and in advancement of the state’s environmental and energy policies. The legislation, authored by Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) and signed by Governor Brown on Sunday, seeks to further develop a pathway for renewable biomethane to be injected into the gas pipeline system, thereby displacing fossil gas and reducing the carbon intensity of the natural gas system.
Senate Bill 1440 requires the California Public Utilities Commission, in consultation with the California Air Resources Board, to consider adopting specific biomethane procurement targets or goals for each of the gas corporations so that each gas corporation procures a proportionate share of biomethane annually. It requires the targets or goals to be cost-effective, the biomethane to be injected into pipelines in California, and the capture or production of the biomethane to directly result in environmental benefits to California.
Legislation aims to provide cost-effective means of reducing short-lived climate pollutant emissions
Sacramento, CA – September 26, 2018 – A new law in California will authorize the state to adopt a biomethane procurement program if it is found to be cost-effective, beneficial to ratepayers, and in advancement of the state’s environmental and energy policies. The legislation, authored by Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) and signed by Governor Brown on Sunday, seeks to further develop a pathway for renewable biomethane to be injected into the gas pipeline system, thereby displacing fossil gas and reducing the carbon intensity of the natural gas system.
Senate Bill 1440 requires the California Public Utilities Commission, in consultation with the California Air Resources Board, to consider adopting specific biomethane procurement targets or goals for each of the gas corporations so that each gas corporation procures a proportionate share of biomethane annually. It requires the targets or goals to be cost-effective, the biomethane to be injected into pipelines in California, and the capture or production of the biomethane to directly result in environmental benefits to California.
In addition to providing a pathway for the de-carbonization of the natural gas system, biomethane procurement will assist the state in meeting the organic waste diversion and short-lived climate pollutant goals established by SB 1383 in 2016. Through SB 1383, the state mandated that 75 percent of organics be diverted from landfills but did not provide a market for it.
“To achieve our ambitious climate and energy procurement goals, California will need to deploy a balanced mix of strategies that spur innovation in the energy sector,” said Senator Hueso. “These strategies will require a fundamental shift in the way we power our homes and businesses, how we transport ourselves and the goods we use in our daily lives, and how we manage the lifecycle of our food and waste.”
California has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. It has also set a target to reduce methane emissions by 40 percent below 2013 levels by 2030. The state has sought to reduce the methane emissions because they present a significant challenge in reducing the state’s overall GHG emissions. Methane has a global warming potential that is 25 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over 100 years, or 84 times greater over 25 years. This means that reducing emissions of methane in the near-term can have immediate climate, air quality, and public health benefits.
In 2015, methane contributed to about 9 percent of California’s GHG emissions. A majority of these emissions come from renewable resources such as landfilled organic waste, livestock manure, and wastewater. By creating a procurement program for biomethane, the state can work toward achieving its organic waste diversion and methane reduction goals by developing a market for the products of the diverted organic waste and captured methane. By utilizing renewable resources that would otherwise emit GHG’s, California can ensure grid reliability, renewables integration and decarbonize the residential and commercial sectors of its economy.
“Biomethane helps create a new holistic or ‘circular’ economy, as opposed to our current linear process of raw inputs and waste material outputs,” said Senator Hueso. “Connecting the ends of the linear economy into a circular whole is the only way forward to a truly sustainable future.”
SB 1440 was sponsored by the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition).
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.
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