RNG NEWS
The future of the Oregon Climate Change Bill
If Oregon lawmakers are going to pass legislation to address climate change, 2019 could very well be their year.
Such legislation has been floating around the capitol in one form or another for a decade. But it remains deeply controversial because of its complexity, its potential cost to consumers and businesses, and ongoing questions over what works.
By Ted Sickinger, The Oregonian
Natural Gas Trucks as viable solution in fight against pollution
Heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses total 7 percent of all vehicles on America’s roadways but account for an outsized 50 percent of all smog-precursor emissions – including nitrogen oxides, or NOx, and diesel particulate matter – and 20 percent of all transportation-related greenhouse gases, or GHGs.
Local, state and federal regulators continue to target HDVs to address the air quality issue. And for good reason. Four in 10 people in the U.S. live in counties with unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the American Lung Association’s 2018 “State of the Air” report. That raises the risk of premature death and increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and asthma. This increased risk is evidenced by the fact that 25 million Americans, or 8 percent of our total population, suffer from asthma.
By Chad Lindholm, VP Clean Energy
Maryland advocates calls Gov. Larry Hogan to support Clean Energy Bill
Maryland clean energy advocates are calling on Gov. Larry Hogan to support a bill that would double the state's commitment to renewable energy.
This latest push of support for the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act comes after Hogan, along with Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, penned an opinion piece for the Washington Post calling for state action against climate change.
By Sara Swann, Delmarva Now
Xebec acquires Ontario-based air and gas service company
Xebec Adsorption Inc., a global provider of clean energy solutions is pleased to announce that it has entered into an arm’s length transactional agreement on Dec. 6 to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Compressed Air International Inc. for a purchase price of C$2,2 million, subject to customary closing adjustments, effective on Jan. 1, 2019. CAI’s principals will remain with CAI after the acquisition to optimize CAI’s integration in Xebec’s industrial compressed air treatment business.
“This acquisition will set Xebec on a path of significant growth in its industrial compressed air treatment business, while also providing future Canada-wide service, support and operations capabilities for its cleantech and renewable gas segment. Being able to provide local service, maintenance and operational support to our cleantech customers in Ontario, especially biogas upgrading customers, is a critical component to our value proposition. To be worry-free is important to customers, and knowing that experienced local service and support is available delivers that peace of mind,” Kurt Sorschak, president and CEO, Xebec Adsorption.
By Xebec Adsorption Inc, Biomass Magazine
Waga Energy partners with Veolia to inject biomethane into French Grid
French landfill gas-to-energy technology firm, Waga Energy, has teamed up with environmental services giant, Veolia, to produce biomethane from Saint-Palais landfill.
The Meylan, France based firm explained that Veolia has implemented its Wagabox® technology, to produce biomethane, a renewable substitute for natural gas, injected directly into the natural gas grid operated by GRDF.
By Ben Messenger, Waste Mangement World
Waga Energy & Veolia Injecting Biomethane from Landfill into French Grid
The government of BC released the CleanBC plan for climate change strategy
On December 5, 2019, the BC government released the CleanBC plan, its long-awaited update to the province's climate change strategy. The CleanBC plan establishes a pathway to achieve the province's target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% by the year 2030 (based on 2007 levels) as set out in the Climate Change Accountability Act. In 2015, BC produced approximately 62 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). A 40% reduction below 2007 levels (i.e. 67 megatonnes or Mt) will require a reduction of 27 Mt by 2030. In terms of emissions by sector, BC's transportation sector accounts for 37%, the oil and gas sector accounts for 22% and buildings 12%. The CleanBC plan describes and quantifies measures that will eliminate approximately 75%, or 18.9 Mt, of its 2030 target. Remaining reduction initiatives will be quantified over the next 18 to 24 months.
One of the key drivers for the CleanBC plan is to accommodate the development of the LNG sector in the province. The BC government estimates that the LNG Canada project in Kitimat could add up to 3.45 Mt of carbon emissions to the province's total. One of the conditions for LNG development in BC is that it fits within the province's climate commitments.
By McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Mondaq
Three CNG stations on convenient route for commercial fleets in Ontario
LONDON, ON, - Union Energy Solutions Limited Partnership, is an unregulated affiliate of Union Gas Limited - an Enbridge Company, along with its industry partner Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) announced today that they have built a network of three compressed natural gas (CNG) fuelling stations at Flying J and Windsor travel centres along Ontario's Highway 401.
This network of CNG stations will provide heavy-duty truck fleets with convenient access to one of the most affordable and clean transportation fuels commercially available, along some of the most heavily trafficked truck routes in Ontario.
By Press Release PR Newswire, Market Insider
California agencies award grants six in-state dairy to RNG pilot projects
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) today announced funding for six pilot projects in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys designed to demonstrate the collection of biomethane from dairy digesters and its injection into natural gas pipelines. The production of biomethane from organic waste products, including animal manure, eliminates significant emissions of methane to the atmosphere.
SAN FRANCISCO, December 3, 2018 – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) today announced funding for six pilot projects in the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys designed to demonstrate the collection of biomethane from dairy digesters and its injection into natural gas pipelines. The production of biomethane from organic waste products, including animal manure, eliminates significant emissions of methane to the atmosphere.
The selected project locations and developers are:
1. South Tulare: California Bioenergy
2. North Visalia: California Bioenergy
3. Buttonwillow: California Bioenergy
4. Merced (CEE): Maas Energy Works
5. Lakeside: Maas Energy Works
6. Weststeyn: DVO, Inc.
The CPUC created the dairy biomethane pilot program as part of the state’s s strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants, including methane, which is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Legislation adopted in 2016 requires the state to reduce methane emissions from the dairy and other livestock sectors by 40 percent by 2030. Emissions from dairy manure account for approximately 25 percent of the State’s overall methane emissions. The interagency committee that selected the projects consisted of representative from the CPUC, CARB, and CDFA. 2
“The pilots chosen will provide us with valuable information about the interconnection process and hopefully facilitate other biomethane projects,” said CPUC Commissioner Clifford Rechtschaffen.
Forty-five dairies will participate in the pilot projects, which will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from animal manure by putting dairy methane waste to beneficial use as a renewable transportation fuel. The six projects will receive approximately $319 million in infrastructure investments and operation expenses over the next 20 years.
The dairy biomethane projects were mandated in Senate Bill 1383 (Lara, 2016) and implemented in a CPUC decision available at: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M201/K352/201352373.PDF. For additional information, please visit: www.cpuc.ca.gov/renewable_natural_gas/.
The CPUC regulates services and utilities, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians’ access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
Future of Renewable Fuel Standard Debated at House Hearing
A bill that would require new cars to operate using more efficient gasoline and sunset the Renewable Fuel Standard drew praise and criticism at a House Subcommittee on Environment hearing.
The 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act (section-by-section summary here) requires manufacturers of light-duty vehicles model years 2023 and later to design motor vehicles to operate using gasoline with research octane number (RON) of 95 or higher and improve fuel economy connected to the use of 95 RON or higher level gasoline.
By Alexander Laska, Eno Center for Transportation
Energy Department Seeks Information on Algae, Biomass, and Waste Feedstock Research
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) is requesting information on research opportunities related to feedstocks that can be used to produce biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower. BETO is seeking input from industry, academia, national laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on the following topics areas:
Outdoor Algae Research: What are the additional areas of research, capabilities, and challenges related to the experimental design and execution of long-term outdoor algae cultivation to advance the production of algal feedstocks for use in biofuel and bioproduct applications?
By U.S. Department of Energy