RNG NEWS
Smithfield renewables effort with Roeslein Alternative Energy marks first year
Smithfield Foods Inc. is observing the one-year anniversary of the national expansion of Smithfield Renewables, which includes projects that seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2025.
The company owns hog-finishing spaces in Missouri, which will feature the implementation of “manure-to-energy” projects across the entire operation for the next 10 years.
Smithfield and Roeslein Alternative Energy have embarked on a joint venture to launch the second phase of a project that converts manure collected from company-owned farms into renewable natural gas, producing enough to power 15,400 homes per year.
By Ray Scherer, NewsPressNow.com.
EDF Welcomes New Measures to Improve Resilience, Reduce Methane Emissions
Smithfield Addresses the Hog Industry’s Vulnerability to Climate Change
(NEW YORK, NY) With North Carolina still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Florence, Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork producer, today committed to invest in infrastructure and provide farmer incentives to install manure lagoon covers and digesters on 90 percent of the total hog finishing capacity in North Carolina, Missouri and Utah over the next 10 years. These technologies protect manure lagoons from excessive rainfall, capture methane emissions and generate renewable energy from biogas.
The commitment includes Smithfield’s own operations and contract farms, as well as opportunities for other integrators to join. Meeting this goal would help Smithfield exceed its industry-leading commitment to reduce supply chain greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2025.
Smithfield Foods Announces Landmark Investment to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Global Food Company Expands “Manure-To-Energy” and Other Renewables Projects in North Carolina, Missouri, and Utah
SMITHFIELD, Va., Oct. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield Foods, Inc. is pleased to announce, through the nationwide expansion of Smithfield Renewables, innovative projects designed to help meet its goal to reduce the company’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25 percent by 2025, which it set in concert with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). This month marks the one-year anniversary of Smithfield Renewables.
As part of the expansion of Smithfield Renewables, Smithfield is:
Setting the ambitious goal to implement “manure-to-energy” projects across 90 percent of Smithfield’s hog finishing spaces in North Carolina and Utah, and nearly all Smithfield’s hog finishing spaces in Missouri over the next ten years. This timeline will aid the company in achieving—and exceeding—its 25 by ’25 commitment.
Converting existing anaerobic treatment lagoons to covered digesters or constructing new covered digesters to capture biogas, which will be transported to central processing facilities to be converted into renewable natural gas (RNG) in North Carolina, Missouri, and Utah.
Launching new programs that target GHG reductions and bolster Smithfield’s sustainability efforts at farms, plants, and throughout the company’s transportation network.
PHL Airport Shuttle Fleet Goes Green With Clean Energy CNG; Valley Vista Services Signs Redeem™ RNG Deal
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE) announced that Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has switched from diesel to Clean Energy’s compressed natural gas (CNG) as part of a sustainability initiative to reduce toxic emissions, decrease noise volume, and lower fuel costs.
First Transit, the largest private-sector provider of mobility solutions in North America and provider of shuttle busservices at PHL, signed a 7-year contract with Clean Energy for an expected volume of 2.5 million GGEs to power its 38 natural gas transit buses. The shuttle fleet accommodates three main routes at PHL—employee, cargo, and long-term economy parking—that traverse a total 3.5 million trips per year.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE) announced that Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has switched from diesel to Clean Energy’s compressed natural gas (CNG) as part of a sustainability initiative to reduce toxic emissions, decrease noise volume, and lower fuel costs.
First Transit, the largest private-sector provider of mobility solutions in North America and provider of shuttle bus services at PHL, signed a 7-year contract with Clean Energy for an expected volume of 2.5 million GGEs to power its 38 natural gas transit buses. The shuttle fleet accommodates three main routes at PHL—employee, cargo, and long-term economy parking—that traverse a total 3.5 million trips per year.
“Airport transit vehicles operate in confined areas, primarily parking lots, so carbon emissions and noise pollution have a greater impact on the passenger experience,” said Raymond Blethen, Northeast director of operations, First Transit. “The airport was seeking to adopt alternative fuels and environmentally-friendly vehicles, so it converted 100 percent of its fleet to natural gas. The CNG-fueled shuttle buses run 90 percent quieter than diesel, lower CO2 emissions by 20 percent, and have no fumes.”
“With CNG our fuel costs are more stable than diesel, the maintenance is a lot cleaner, and it improves the reliability of vehicles in the winter,” said Blethen. “From a safety standpoint there is no spillage, so unlike diesel we never have to shut down.”
Waste Vehicles to Run on Redeem™
Clean Energy executed a supply agreement with Valley Vista Services to power 100 waste vehicles with its Redeem brand renewable natural gas (RNG) for an anticipated total of 1.3 million GGEs of Redeem annually.
Redeem is the first commercially available RNG vehicle fuel. It is derived from capturing biogenic methane that is naturally generated by the decomposition of organic landfill and agricultural waste. Redeem enables at least 70 percent reduction in carbon emissions when displacing diesel or gasoline, according to California Air Resources Board (CARB) estimates.
Valley Vista Services will offer Redeem at two facilities, a private/public CNG station at its headquarters located in City of Industry, Calif. that will dispense an anticipated 1 million GGEs of Redeem annually. Valley Vista also built a state-of-the-art transfer station earlier this year in Pomona, Calif. that has a new public access fast fill CNG station and will dispense an anticipated 300,000 GGEs of Redeem annually. Both contracts are for three years.
Clean Energy commissioned a newly constructed private liquified natural gas (LNG) fueling station for Burrtec Waste Industries. The station build project, located at Burrtec’s San Bernardino facility, was completed by Clean Energy within 10 months and will fuel upwards of 50 LNG refuse trucks. Prior to the commissioning of the site, Burrtec signed a three-year repair and maintenance (R&M) agreement with Clean Energy. The station is expected to consume 600,000 LNG gallons annually.
Other refuse contracts include the City of Ontario, which signed a one-year R&M and RNG renewal and extended its option for an expected 600,000 GGEs annually. The City of Sacramento opted for a one-year R&M renewal and extended its option for an expected 450,000 GGEs annually.
Growing Demand for Near-Zero Trucks
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) staff is recommending a total of 148 port trucks receive incentive funding under the Year 20 Carl Moyer Program. The Carl Moyer Program focuses on improving air quality by replacing older heavy-duty diesel trucks with cleaner fuel technologies, including near-zero engines powered by Clean Energy’s Redeem. The Year 20 Carl Moyer grant program is oversubscribed and SCAQMD has a backup funding list of additional projects awaiting funding.
The SCAQMD Board will consider approval of staff recommendations at an upcoming board meeting.
SQAQMD staff is also recommending that 10 port trucks receive funding under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2017 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program, which provides support for projects that protect human health and improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions from diesel engines.
“It’s encouraging to see a strong demand for near-zero trucks in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach,” said Greg Roche, vice president, Clean Energy. “These grant programs will go a long way to reduce air pollution in this busy transportation corridor by deploying the cleanest truck technology that can be easily and economically adopted today.”
Mountain Valley Express, the less than truckload (LTL) and general freight company with locations in California, Nevada and Arizona is expanding its LNG fleet as part of an initiative to reduce emissions. With support from Prop 1B grants, the freight company is adding eight Freightliner M2 tractors equipped with the Near-Zero ISL-G engines, which will consume an expected 60,000 GGEs annually at Clean Energy public stations in Northern California, including West Sacramento, Lathrop and Tulare.
About Clean Energy
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is the leading provider of natural gas fuel and renewable natural gas (RNG) fuel for transportation in the United States and Canada, with a network of approximately 530 stations across North America that we own or operate. We build and operate compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas stations (LNG) stations and deliver more CNG, LNG and RNG vehicle fuel than any other company in the United States. Clean Energy sells Redeem™ RNG fuel and believes it is the cleanest transportation fuel commercially available, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70%. Clean Energy owns natural gas liquification facilities in California and Texas which produces LNG for the transportation and other markets. For more information, visit www.CleanEnergyFuels.com.
SoCalGas Announces New Truck Loan Program for Fleets Interested in Switching from Diesel to Natural Gas Trucks
Program allows qualified fleets to test a near-zero emissions truck for up to two weeks
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced the launch of the new SoCalGas Truck Loan Program. The program allows qualified fleet owners the opportunity to try out the latest in heavy-duty natural gas truck technology by test driving a 12-Liter near-zero truck. This "try before you buy" program provides fleet owners with the opportunity to haul loads with the new truck for up to two weeks. Operators will experience the similarities between natural gas trucks and diesel trucks with respect to power, drivability, fuel range and fuel availability. Additionally, fleet owners will see the advantages natural gas trucks have over diesel, including lower fuel costs.
Program allows qualified fleets to test a near-zero emissions truck for up to two weeks
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced the launch of the new SoCalGas Truck Loan Program. The program allows qualified fleet owners the opportunity to try out the latest in heavy-duty natural gas truck technology by test driving a 12-Liter near-zero truck. This "try before you buy" program provides fleet owners with the opportunity to haul loads with the new truck for up to two weeks. Operators will experience the similarities between natural gas trucks and diesel trucks with respect to power, drivability, fuel range and fuel availability. Additionally, fleet owners will see the advantages natural gas trucks have over diesel, including lower fuel costs.
SoCalGas is working in partnership with the truck's owner, Rush Truck Centers, the only company with a 12-Liter near-zero natural gas truck equipped with a Cummins Westport ISX12N engine and Momentum Fuel system available for rent in Southern California. As part of the rental program, customers will participate in a "pre-rental" and "post-rental" survey of their natural gas vehicle driving experience. The survey will include topics such as truck performance, fueling availability, grants and incentives and purchase decision.
"More fleet owners have switched to natural gas trucks over the last few years, due in part to available incentive funding," said Sharon Tomkins, vice president of customer solutions and strategy for SoCalGas. "However, some are unfamiliar with the technology and are hesitant to make the switch. The SoCalGas Truck Loan Program is the perfect way to put natural gas trucks to the test on routes driven every day."
"We had the opportunity to be one of the first participants in the Truck Loan Program," said Gordy Reimer, president of Southern Counties Express. "Our drivers were able to successfully test the newest 12-Liter renewable natural gas engine on trade lanes they current operate their own trucks on and discover for themselves the advances in natural gas engine technology."
This loan program is just one tool SoCalGas is using to get more drivers behind the wheel of the cleanest heavy-duty truck commercially available. SoCalGas account executives have assisted dozens of fleet owners with incentive funding applications to purchase more than 350 near-zero natural gas trucks and build five new CNG fueling stations since the beginning of the year. Replacing 350 diesel trucks with near-zero natural gas trucks is the equivalent of taking more than 20,000 passenger cars off the road.
For more information on the Truck Loan Program or to inquire about upcoming funding programs, please contact Wendell Peoples at WPeoples@semprautilities.com.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable natural gas service to 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses. Natural gas delivered through the company's pipelines also plays a key role in providing electricity to Californians—about 60 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants.
SoCalGas is committed to investing in its natural gas system infrastructure, while keeping bills affordable for our customers. From 2013 through 2017, the company spent nearly $6 billion to upgrade and modernize its natural gas system to enhance safety and reliability. The company is also committed to being a leader in the region's clean energy future, and is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas from dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants and the development of renewable energy storage technologies. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroomor connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.
2018 Energy Vision Awards Honor Leading Adopters and Advocates of Renewable Natural Gas
NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- At its awards reception in Manhattan this week, the NGO Energy Vision honored business and government leaders and advocates who are speeding adoption of renewable natural gas (RNG) made from organic waste. RNG is the lowest–carbon fuel available, and net carbon-negative as a transportation fuel.
The awardees include:
Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, Director of the Global Public Health Program at Boston College's Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, who advocates adopting clean alternatives to diesel vehicles to improve public health. "Diesel exhaust is nasty stuff," he said. "It's a complex mix of gases and particulates, potent respiratory irritants, and metabolic toxins. They waft through the urban air and make us all sick. The alternative New York City proposes is 'cleaner diesel' but that's like proposing 'safe asbestos' – there's no such thing. Getting rid of diesel in New York City is the right thing to do."
The City of Toronto, which collects residential food waste and processes it into RNG to power its refuse trucks. "Since 2002, we have been quietly working to harness the green energy potential of the biogas from Toronto's source separated organic waste," said Carlyle Khan, Director of Infrastructure Development and Asset Management for Toronto's Solid Waste Management Services Division. "Our vision is to reduce our impact on the planet by creating a renewable resource."
LA Metro Increases RNG Sourcing
LA Metro’s plan is to reach a 2030 zero emission target and retain environmental attributes by selling credits earned by dispensing and using RNG.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) is now sourcing nearly half its fuel from renewable natural gas (RNG). The large transit operation’s aggressive move from fossil-derived natural gas to RNG comes one year after putting RNG to the test at one bus division.
Last month, LA Metro exercised a four-year option in its contract with Clean Energy Renewable Fuels, a subsidiary of Clean Energy Fuels. Through that option, RNG now flows into four more of its 11 bus divisions.
By Arlene Karidis, Waste 360.
ACT research say there’s been a 28% reduction in sales of Class 8 (heavy-duty) trucks in the U.S. this year
Interest in looking at diesel alternatives could be on the wane in the U.S., at least temporarily, with truck sales data showing a big slowdown in natural gas-powered trucks.
ACT research say there’s been a 28% reduction in sales of Class 8 (heavy-duty) trucks in the U.S. this year.
The steep decline in natural gas-powered heavy-duty trucks in the U.S. comes after a 13% increase in the sale of the diesel-alternative vehicles in the market in 2017.
SoCalGas' Innovative Natural Gas Capture System Conserves More Than 2.5 Million Cubic Feet of Natural Gas to Date
Methane-reducing technology reduces emissions and saves enough natural gas to fuel more than 12,500 U.S. homes
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced the utility had achieved a new milestone with its innovative natural gas capture system, conserving a total of more than 2.5 million cubic feet of natural gas – the equivalent to what more than 12,500 homes use each day on average in the U.S. – since first deploying the technique in August 2016. When crews perform work on a pipeline, some natural gas inside the pipe must be released for safety. Instead of being released into the atmosphere, the natural gas is captured, compressed, and reinjected back into the utility's pipeline system for use by SoCalGas customers. The innovative process reduces emissions and eliminates noise and odor that typically occur in the traditional venting process during pipeline replacement or inspection work. The methane capture technique was one of the best practices included in the utility's Leak Abatement Compliance Plan approved on October 12 by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Photos from one of the natural gas capture projects are available here.
Trump administration wants to make food waste great again
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have launched a new initiative called "Winning on Reducing Food Waste." The respective heads of each agency signed a joint formal agreement to tackle the issue on Oct. 18.
According to that agreement, the purpose is to affirm a "shared commitment to reducing food loss and waste and commit to developing a strategic plan for coordination and communication among the EPA, FDA and USDA that will leverage government resources more efficiently, saving taxpayer dollars while effectively addressing issues where the Parties have common issues and goals.”
By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive.