RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Decarbonizing the Power Sector with Renewable Gas
One way to help decarbonize the electric grid is through the use of renewable hydrogen, that is, hydrogen produced from renewable power resources. The process involves using excess wind and solar power during periods of oversupply to create hydrogen through electrolysis, then burning the renewable hydrogen in gas turbines when the power is needed on the grid. There are challenges to achieving this goal, but at least one company believes it has a roadmap for overcoming the obstacles.
By Don Daniels, POWER Mag.
(Editorial) Close to Home: All-electric’s time will come, but it isn’t here yet
Berkeley just banned natural gas hookups for many new buildings. A host of communities are looking to follow; in the North Bay, this includes Santa Rosa and Petaluma. Hats off to Berkeley for its shout against methane’s greenhouse effect. But it is worth taking a sober look at consequences before hastily enacting more such bans.
First, electric-only buildings may initially worsen, not improve, environmental impact. Natural gas loads — heating, hot water and cooking — peak in the late evening and early morning, and in the winter. Solar power offers little then. Wind is unpredictable. Absent massive electric grid storage, where will the electricity come from?
By Doug Widney, The Press Democrat.
Organizations Supporting Conversion of Organic Waste to Renewable Energy Launch New Educational Platform at RNG WORKS 2019
Learn About Local Environmental and Economic Co-Benefits of Renewable Natural Gas at RenewableNaturalGas.info.
NASHVILLE, TN – Today, educational non-profit organization RNG Global Initiative and the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) jointly announced a new learning platform that is dedicated to public education of the environmental and economic benefits resulting from converting local organic waste into renewable natural gas (RNG) as a clean energy solution.
The organizations made the announcement in front of 350 participants during the first day of RNG WORKS 2019, the two-day Technical Workshop & Trade Expo hosted this year in Music City.
Using local organic waste sources as a renewable, sustainable solution to decarbonize each of our society’s end-uses for natural gas is a common-sense, increasing global trend that we have just scratched the surface of in North America. Yet the RNG solution has an established history, using technologies proven for decades in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Most energy users and many energy decision-makers are still building familiarity with the facts regarding the history and benefits of RNG production and use. We have captured potential methane emissions from decomposing organic waste and used it to substitute for geologic [fossil] natural gas in the U.S. as far back as 1982 in New York. When used to fuel vehicles, RNG has proven to have the lowest carbon lifecycle emissions of all transportation fuel options currently available in many markets.
While more than 100 North American sites have started producing renewable natural gas since the early 1980s – and more than half of those in just the past four years – greater opportunities remain. Using our potential RNG resources could annually replace seven billiongallons of diesel used in transportation, and, in the U.S. alone, could create 70,000 or more new clean energy jobs with salaries often two to three times the national median.
Learn more about renewable natural gas, its benefits, and opportunities to take action at RenewableNaturalGas.info.
ABOUT THE RNG GLOBAL INITIATIVE
RNG Global Initiative ('RNG Global') is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that educates and empowers communities with information and resources to convert local waste to productive end-use resulting in economic and environmental benefits– including but not limited to, renewable fuel, heat and power, safe food supply, sustainable land use, and clean air and drinking water. RNG Global comes alongside cities, communities, companies, and change-makers around the globe to overcome the obstacles that prevent renewable natural gas from being developed.
ABOUT THE COALITION FOR RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS
The RNG Coalition represents the renewable natural gas industry in North America with more than 200 members, including companies that produce, or otherwise support production and distribution of biogas-derived renewable natural gas (RNG or biomethane) – a domestic, clean, low-carbon, and renewable source of power, heat and fuel that makes up the predominant share of cellulosic biofuel in North America.
Editorial: Lawsuit against Tillamook is without merit
We remember when we found out that our favorite chocolate chip cookies weren’t made by elves in a hollow tree. Had we not been 8 at the time we might have hired a lawyer and taken the folks at Keebler to court for falsely suggesting it was elven magic that made the cookies and other snacks so good. Such a case would have been thrown out of court.
But that lawsuit would have had more merit than one filed last week against the Tillamook Creamery Association by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
By Capital Press.
Colorado Issues Low Carbon Fuel Standard Feasibility Solicitation
The Colorado Energy Office has issued a documented quote (DQ) for services seeking independent contractors with experience conducting life cycle assessments and evaluating clean fuels policies to conduct a Low Carbon Fuel Standard Feasibility Study.
This solicitation is published using the Colorado Vendor Self Service (VSS) website. Solicitation documents and information (including any amendments or modifications) will be updated with revisions on this site. Go to www.colorado.gov/vss and select “Public Access”, where you can search for the DQ Number (2020000185).
The sole contact concerning this DQ is sara.graf@state.co.us. Offerors are not to contact any other State office or individual regarding this DQ.
DTE Biomass Energy opens first renewable natural gas processing and interstate injection site in Wisconsin
With new injection site, DTE and local dairy farmers are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and displacing fossil-based fuel by creating sustainable vehicle fuel.
NEWTON, Wis., Sept. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Biomass Energy, a non-regulated subsidiary of DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE), today announced it has opened its first and the state of Wisconsin's first combined dairy renewable natural gas (RNG) processing and interstate injection facility. With over three decades of experience in landfill waste-to-energy projects, DTE Biomass, along with local dairy farm partners, is leading the way in the Wisconsin dairy renewable energy movement.
With new injection site, DTE and local dairy farmers are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and displacing fossil-based fuel by creating sustainable vehicle fuel.
NEWTON, Wis., Sept. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Biomass Energy, a non-regulated subsidiary of DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE), today announced it has opened its first and the state of Wisconsin's first combined dairy renewable natural gas (RNG) processing and interstate injection facility. With over three decades of experience in landfill waste-to-energy projects, DTE Biomass, along with local dairy farm partners, is leading the way in the Wisconsin dairy renewable energy movement.
The renewable natural gas dairy processing and injection site, located in Newton, Wisconsin, processes raw biogas piped from nearby partner farms into RNG, and also receives RNG trucked in from other dairy farm-based DTE facilities. From here, pipeline-quality RNG is injected directly into the interstate pipeline.
"This injection and RNG processing facility is an important milestone for us," said Kevin Dobson, vice president of business development, DTE Biomass Energy. "DTE's dairy RNG production has grown tremendously over the last several months, and now we have a central location and efficient means for continuing the operation and growth of these and other dairy projects."
DTE began dairy RNG processing operations in the state in the spring of 2019 at Dairy Dreams, LLC, a dairy farm located in Casco, Wisconsin. DTE also has partnered with Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy, LLC, Maple Leaf Dairy, Inc., and Grotegut Dairy Farm, Inc., and is processing biogas produced from these five farms into RNG at three DTE-owned and operated RNG facilities.
Converting waste manure to RNG is a win-win, both for dairy farms and the local environment. Leaving manure to decompose naturally on farmland releases methane directly into the atmosphere. Capturing this gas instead reduces the farms' overall greenhouse gas footprint, provides the farms with another revenue stream and helps create a clean, sustainable vehicle fuel that displaces fossil-based gasoline or diesel fuel.
"Nearly 20,000 cows throughout Wisconsin are contributing to these projects," Dobson notes. "Their waste was once a farmer's burden, but now it's a sustainable and clean source of energy," he goes on to explain.
DTE is currently constructing four more RNG facilities in Wisconsin, partnering with Statz Bros. Inc, Kinnard Farms, and Milk Source at both their Rosendale and New Chester farms. The projects expect to begin processing RNG in early 2020. DTE Biomass will have seven DTE-owned and operated RNG facilities when these projects are complete.
Founded in 1988, DTE Biomass Energy has become a proven leader in the landfill and dairy gas-to-energy industries. It is a part of DTE Power & Industrial – one of DTE Energy's non-utility business units.
About DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.2 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE portfolio includes energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, renewable natural gas, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy marketing and trading. As an environmental leader, DTE will reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions by more than 80 percent by 2040 to produce cleaner energy while keeping it safe, reliable and affordable. DTE is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com.
Smithfield Renewables Senior Director Congratulated as one of the 100 Environment & Energy Leaders
The E+E 100 are the VPs, directors, managers and engineers who are making significant strides in driving our industry. See the complete list here or download the report for more detailed information about these leaders. And stay tuned for the Call for Submissions coming in the fall, when you can nominate your favorite sustainability or energy management professional!
Now, meet Kraig Westerbeek, senior director of Smithfield Renewables with Smithfield Foods. Smithfield Renewables was formed in 2017 as a platform to help the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer cut carbon and advance renewable energy. Westerbeek notes that in 2016 Smithfield became the first major protein company to announce a greenhouse gas emissions goal, targeting a 25% reduction by 2025.
By Energy Manager Today
SCS Energy Breaks Ground on Indy Landfill Gas to RNG Project
In August 2019, SCS Energy broke ground on construction of a 4,000-scfm landfill gas to renewable natural gas (RNG) plant in Indianapolis. Indy High Btu, LLC engaged SCS Energy to build the RNG plant under an engineer/procure/construct (EPC) agreement. Indy High Btu, LLC is jointly owned by Kinetrex Energy, Southside Landfill, and EDL Energy.
The RNG plant employs an iron redox scrubber for hydrogen sulfide removal, membranes for carbon dioxide removal and pressure swing adsorption for nitrogen removal. The plant is on schedule to achieve commercial operation in February 2020.
By Global Newswire
New Holland Unveils the First pre-development of its Low Carbon Tractor at Low Carbon Vehicle Event 2019
New Holland Agriculture unveiled today the first pre-development of its Low Carbon Tractor (LoCT) at the Low Carbon Vehicle Event 2019, which is taking place in Millbrook, Bedfordshire, UK.
The tractor is a first result of the LoCT project, partly funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC UK) and led by the global capital goods company CNH Industrialtogether with its agricultural brand New Holland and its powertrain brand FPT Industrial. The project aims to design a commercially viable tractor capable of operation on biomethane while complying with the latest European and US emissions standards. New Holland and FPT Industrial, which has pioneered natural gas traction for more than 20 years, are partnering with Eminox, an exhaust after-treatment technology specialist, Zircotec, a thermal management and ceramic coating specialist, and Ricardo, an engineering consultant specialising in technology, project innovation and strategy.
By Market Screener
Counterpoint: Don't Single out Natural Gas as a Problem
Natural gas plays an essential role in meeting Minnesota’s energy needs by providing reliable, affordable energy for our homes and businesses. As the least expensive home heating energy source available, it is no wonder that two of every three Minnesota households (even more in the Twin Cities metro area) depend on natural gas for heating.
For nearly 150 years, CenterPoint Energy has served as a trusted energy partner delivering the warmth of natural gas to more than 860,000 customers in Minnesota. As a good corporate citizen and environmental steward, CenterPoint Energy is also focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to natural gas.
By Brad Tutunjian, StarTribune
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