RNG NEWS
Energy Vision on RNG as Here and Now carbon-negative solution
Joanna Underwood is founder and trustee of Energy Vision, which researches and promotes technologies and strategies for a sustainable energy and transportation future.
As the UN secretary-general António Guterres stated at the COP24 climate meeting in Poland, countries must quickly set and achieve much more ambitious goals to keep global warming below catastrophic levels. Even if they met their current emissions reduction pledges under the Paris agreement, it still wouldn’t be enough to keep warming under the critical threshold of 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius.
By Joanna Underwood, Energy Vision, Thomas Reuters Foundation News
Incoming New Mexico energy secretary to diversify renewable energy
Last week, Gov.-elect Michelle Lujan Grisham started announcing appointments to top spots in state government. Among the positions she announced was her choice for secretary of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), Sarah Cottrell Propst.
Most recently, Propst worked as executive director of Interwest Energy Alliance, a nonprofit trade association of renewable energy companies in six western states, including New Mexico. During the administration of Gov. Bill Richardson, Propst served as his energy and environment advisor, and then as deputy secretary of the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). She came to New Mexico after earning a master’s degree from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
By Laura Paskus, NM Political Report
Canada’s Clean Fuel Standard Expands clean fuel options
In a significant development for the clean fuels sector, Environment and Climate Change Canada released today the Regulatory Design Paper reflecting a year of intensive consultation on the national Clean Fuel Standard. The CFS will be implemented in 2022 for the liquid fuel stream, and in 2023 for gaseous and solid fuel streams, with 30 MT of annual reductions from all streams by 2030.
The CFS design includes the following key elements.
- Liquid fuels—of which transportation consumes 80 percent – will shoulder 23 MT of the 30 MT CFS total, with reductions to come from clean fuels such as biofuels, electric vehicles, renewable natural gas and hydrogen
By Advanced Biofuels Canada, Biomass
Dominion Energy and Smithfield foods partner for RNG venture
RICHMOND, VA; SMITHFIELD, VA-- Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods, Inc. are joining forces in an historic initiative to transform the future of sustainable energy and agriculture, announcing their first projects in North Carolina, Virginia and Utah.
The companies are forming a joint venture called Align Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)℠ that will capture methane emissions from hog farms and convert them into clean renewable energy for residential home heating and power for local businesses.
By Reggie VanWagoner, The Pyramid
Waste Management 2018 Sustainability Report commends RNG
Waste Management (WM) just released its 2018 Sustainability Report, titled “Change for the Better.” The report highlights progress toward reducing Waste Management’s greenhouse gas footprint, recycling viability, technology utilization and helping employees, customers and communities to be safe, resilient and sustainable.
“The world is changing more rapidly than ever. To sustain and succeed in the face of this change requires agility, adaptability and, above all, a resilient spirit,” said Jim Fish, president and CEO of Waste Management, in a statement. “We see these qualities tested and proven countless times each day by our employees who manage the environmental needs of our customers. This year’s Sustainability Report is a testament to our continued commitment to our planet and our people.”
By Waste360 Staff
Environmental Finance names Element Market Best in two RIN categories
Element Markets, the largest independent marketer of renewable natural gas (RNG) in the United States and Canada, was recognized for its work in the renewable fuel credit markets by Environmental Finance magazine today in its 19th annual Market Rankings.
Element Markets was named the “best” in two renewable identification number-related categories:
Best Advisory – Renewable Identification Numbers
Best Trading Company – Renewable Identification Numbers
By Element Markets
D.C. council passes ambitious climate bill for 100% renewable energy by 2032
The Trump administration isn’t about renewable energy, but thanks to the Washington, D.C., city council, it could soon be running on clean power. The council passed one of the most ambitious climate bills in the country on Tuesday requiring the District to get all of its energy from renewables by 2032.
The bill was introduced in July by City Councilmember Mary Cheh and was spurred along by a group of more than 110 environmental, justice and faith groups as well as unions. While it includes a host of new climate rules, chief among them is the renewable requirement. Until Tuesday, the city’s renewable portfolio standard required utilities serving the city to increase their share of renewably generated electricity to 50 percent by 2032. The new bill ups that to 100 percent.
By Brian Kahn, Earther
DVO Inc. outlines plans for RNG dairy project
DVO Inc., a Wisconsin-based designer of anaerobic digesters, has outlined its plans for a California dairy biomethane project.
The California Public Utilities Commission, California Air Resources Board, and California Department of Food and Agriculture recently announced funding for six pilot projects in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys designed to demonstrate the collection of biomethane from dairy digesters and injection into natural gas pipelines. DVO – in partnership with JG Weststeyn Dairy, a dairy farm located in Willows, Calif. – was one of the six selected entities.
By Betsy Lillian, NGT News
New York Gov. Cuomo pledges 100% carbon-free electric by 2040
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, on Monday pledged to bring New York to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 in a speech laying out his agenda for the first 100 days of 2019.
The pledge follows the New York Public Service Commission's Friday order approving plans to implement the third stage of its Clean Energy Standard (CES), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050, with 50% of the state's electricity coming from renewables by 2030. And on Thursday, the commission approved the most ambitious energy storage target in the country — 3 GW by 2030 and 1.5 GW by 2025 — as well as a target aimed at doubling utility energy efficiency progress by 2025.
By Catherine Morehouse, Utility Dive
Element Markets awarded top honors by Environmental Finance magazine
Element Markets was recognized for excellent client service in the carbon offset marketplace for the 7th consecutive year in Environmental Finance magazine’s 19th annual Market Rankings, which was released today.
Element Markets took top honors in three categories:
Best Trading Company, Options in North American Markets (California)
Best Trading Company, Spots & Futures in North American Markets (California)
Best Trading Company, North American Markets (RGGI)
By Element Markets