RNG NEWS
VTT Technical Research Center of Finland Developed New Technique based on Gasification
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd has developed a new technique based on gasification, which offers a sustainable way to turn forest industry byproducts, such as bark, sawdust and forestry waste, into transport fuels and chemicals. The new technique reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 90% compared to fossil fuels.
The new approach uses gasification to turn biomass into intermediate products - liquid hydrocarbons, methanol or methane - in production units integrated with communal district heating plants or forest industry power plants. The intermediate products are processed further in oil refineries to make renewable fuels or chemicals.
By VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Eurek Alert
NGVAmerica Released Fact Sheets on RNG use for various transportation vehicles
NGVAmerica has released four new fact sheets touting the benefits of using natural gas for heavy-duty trucks, school buses, and refuse and transit vehicles.
NGVAmerica says the new information comes as states are distributing their shares of the $2.9 billion Environmental Mitigation Trust funding established as part of the Volkswagen emissions settlement.
By Betsy Lillian, NGT News
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SoCalGas & Onboard Dynamics Announced New Mobile Compressor Demonstration Project
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and Onboard Dynamics, Inc. (ObDI) today announced the field demonstration of new mobile compressor technology that provides on-site backup and supplemental compression at natural gas fueling stations. The new compressor, called the GoFlo® CNG80, is now being demonstrated at the Antelope Valley School Transportation Agency in Lancaster, California, where 43 natural gas school busses refuel using the fueling station at AVSTA's fleet yard. SoCalGas and ObDI are partnering to fund the demonstration project to validate the performance of the new mobile compressor, which they expect will further improve on-site refueling for natural gas fleet customers. Photos of the compressor are available here.
"The new GoFlo mobile compressors increase reliability and resilience of natural gas fueling stations by helping mitigate the risk of electric power supply interruption," said Yuri Freedman, SoCalGas senior director of business development. "This type of equipment will enhance the function of any fueling station and make refueling even easier for fleet operators who fuel with clean natural gas and renewable natural gas."
By Southern California Gas Company, PR Newswire
RNG Coalition Announces Sam Wade as Director of State Regulatory Affairs
The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition), Sacramento, California, announced Sam Wade has been hired as the organization’s director of state regulatory affairs. Wade is the former chief of the Transportation Fuel Branch at the California Air Resources Board (ARB).
“I'm very excited to join the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas and to help represent an industry that plays such a key role in achieving clean air and climate objectives,” Wade says. “I look forward to leveraging my experience to expand state-level regulations, programs and markets to support increased development, deployment and utilization of RNG.”
By Adam Redling, Waste Today
AQMD Funds SoCalGas Ultra-Low Emission Water Heater Project
SoCalGas announced the utility was awarded $1.7 million in funding from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) for two projects to reduce emissions in residential and commercial buildings. The funding will support a commercial water heating incentive program that provides rebates to distributors selling ultra-low emission water heaters. The award will also be used to build a 1.5 kilowatt fuel cell in a new, mixed fuel, zero-net-energy home that will demonstrate how renewable energy and natural gas can work together to reduce emissions at the lowest cost for the homeowner. The money is part of a $61 million funding pool for projects that will reduce stationary and mobile source emissions in the Los Angeles Basin.
"We are continuously working to find innovative ways to reduce emissions and provide our customers with equipment that helps to keep their energy bills affordable," said Sharon Tomkins, vice president of customer solutions and strategy for SoCalGas. "Curbing California's emissions requires cooperation from all sectors - policymakers, businesses and consumers, and this AQMD program is a prime example of what can be achieved when we all work together."
By Cision PR Newswire
States Follow California's Lead in 100% Energy Target
It’s been less than four months since California committed to getting all of its electricity from climate-friendly sources by 2045. But the idea is already catching on in other states.
At least nine governors taking their oaths of office this month, from Nevada to Michigan to New York, campaigned on 100% clean energy, or have endorsed the target since it was enshrined in California law. The District of Columbia also set a 100% clean energy goal last month. So did Xcel Energy, a Minneapolis-based utility that serves 3.6 million electricity customers across eight Western and Midwestern states.
By Sammy Roth, LA Times
Hexagon completes acquirement of Agility Fuel Solutions
Hexagon Composites ASA completed its acquisition of Agility Fuel Solutions Holdings Inc. on Jan. 4.
In 2016, Hexagon’s and Agility Fuel Systems’ medium- and heavy-duty compressed natural gas automotive businesses merged to create Agility Fuel Solutions, resulting in Hexagon’s owning 50% of Agility. In November 2018, Hexagon signed an agreement to acquire the remaining 50% of the company in a deal that valued Agility’s equity at $250 million on a 100% basis. The companies said they would further promote the adoption of natural gas, biogas, hydrogen, propane and electrification.
By Betsy Lillian, NGT News
2019 General Assembly concerns for Transportation and Clean Energy Jobs Act
A number new lawmakers are serving the first year of their four-year terms.
Annapolis, Md (KM). A lot of issues will be coming before the 2019 Maryland General Assembly, which convened its 90-day session on Wednesday.
One of them is expected to be transportation. Frederick County Delegate Ken Kerr (D-3B) says that’s one issue he wants to tackle, especially when it concerns Route 15. “The three-mile stretch of Route 15 is a constant bottleneck, choke point in Frederick. We want to get that moved up on the Highway Priority list,” he says.
By Kevin McManus, WFMD
City of Portland declines food waste in order to keep D3 RIN eligibility.
Portlanders may be speaking a lot about Poop to Power this summer, when the city treatment plant expects to begin converting sewage into renewable natural gas.
But eggshells, chicken bones and rotting produce won't be part of the mix, now that Metro has scrapped talks with Waste Management Inc. to collect the region's food scraps and turn it into energy at the same city plant. In December, Metro ended nearly a year's negotiations with Waste Management — which was partnering with the city Bureau of Environmental Services — after failing to reach agreement on the price and volume of food scraps to be processed at the bureau's Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant in North Portland.
By Steve Law, Portland Tribune
NASEO RFA for Alternative Fuels and Emergency Planning Upcoming Deadline
NASEO, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Cities Program, has released a Request for Applications (RFA) for State Energy Offices who are interested in integrating alternative fuel vehicles into the state's emergency planning process. Applications are due on Monday, January 14, 2019.
This project will build on the Initiative for Resiliency in Energy through Vehicles (iREV), a nation-wide project designed to help jurisdictions assess the potential use of alternative fuel vehicles in emergencies. Under iREV, pilots were conducted in Tennessee and Lancaster County, PA, through partnerships with their State Energy Office, Clean Cities Coalition, and Emergency Management Agency. NASEO is now seeking applications from similar teams in one or more states. Successful applicants will work with NASEO to develop an 'iREV Policy and Planning Review (iREV PPR),' detailing how to best leverage alternative fuels and vehicles to enhance emergency planning.
By NASEO, Public Now