RNG NEWS
2018 RNG business achievements
Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas hits member milestone
With the addition of eight new members in September and October, the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas—the trade association representing the North American renewable natural gas (RNG, biomethane or upgraded biogas) industry—now represents more than 150 member companies and organizations.
The RNG Coalition began with seven members in July 2011, when there were just 31 operating RNG projects in North America. Today, there are 85 production facilities, with dozens more under construction.
The eight newest members represent the broad value chain of the RNG industry. They include engineering and consulting firm Bartlett & West, law firm Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Northeast Gas Association, WGL, EnviTec Biogas, SysAdvance, Ingevity and the New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition.
By Anna Simet, Biogass Magazine
RINs market awaits Washington in 2019
The market for Renewable Identification Numbers looked for relief in 2019 after a tumultuous 2018.
Uncertainty over the nation's renewable fuel policy created a volatile market for RINs, the credits used by refiners and fossil fuel importers to prove compliance with federal renewable fuel blending mandates. Whether that happens will depend on the decisions and actions of the US Environmental Protection Agency.
By Wesley Swift, S&P Global
California's 100% emissions-free energy ambitions
The path to 100% emissions-free energy by 2045 in California is not completely carved, and answers are still forthcoming.
Most of the state's load serving entities (LSEs) required to meet the SB 100 mandate of 60% renewables by 2030 have met their 2017 interim requirement of 27%, according to the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) latest annual RPS report. California's three dominant investor-owned utilities (IOUs) have reached 33% renewables and are on track for 50% by 2020.
By, Herman K. Trabish, Utility Dive
10 States make climate change policies priority in 2019
Despite federal climate policy rollbacks, governors and cities have decided to take up the mantel on climate leadership. Nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic governors and the mayor of Washington, D.C. announced that they will move forward with a plan that prioritizes clean transportation and ambitious climate goals.
The leaders of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, New York and Washington D.C. have all made recent announcements that place climate change as a key priority for their administration in the coming year.
By Michael Green, Opinion Contributor, The Hill
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