RNG NEWS
Best Practices for Voluntary RNG Programs
As pressure to decarbonize our energy supply mounts, many gas utilities are considering how to integrate and scale renewable natural gas, and are considering a voluntary renewable natural gas (RNG) program for their residential and commercial customers.
While voluntary RNG programs are a relatively new development for gas utilities, these programs have many similarities to the voluntary green power programs that have been offered by electric utilities for decades. As such, there is much that gas utilities can learn from their electric utility counterparts in terms of best practices and risk mitigation as they consider whether and how to design and launch successful RNG programs.
By Utility Dive
Brightmark Energy Invests in Upstate New York Dairy RNG Project
Brightmark Energy, a San Francisco-based waste to energy development company, announced today that it has partnered with four dairy farms in upstate New York to utilize anaerobic digesters that will convert a total of 225,000 gallons of dairy waste per day from 11,000 cows into biogas and other useful products.
After the planned installation of gas upgrade equipment is completed at the Swiss Valley, Zuber, Boxler, and Lake Shore farms, as well as a fifth farm that is expected to be finalized next month, the project is anticipated to generate about 260,000 MMBtu of renewable natural gas each year. The gas processed at each farm will be transported to the Zuber farm, where it will be injected into the Empire interstate gas pipeline.
By Fox40
Fortis Utilities Take Action to Decrease Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Increase Renewable Energy Use
Fortis Inc. ("Fortis" or the "Corporation") (TSX/NYSE:FTS) announced today that its subsidiary, FortisBC, has set a greenhouse gas ("GHG") reduction target. The utility said earlier today it has set an ambitious goal to reduce GHG emissions associated with their customers’ energy use by 30 percent overall by the year 2030. This announcement, along with other developments at Fortis utilities, demonstrates our commitment to a lower carbon economy.
Tucson Electric Power ("TEP") had a goal to deliver 30 percent renewable power to customers by 2030. The utility is expecting to exceed 28 percent of its renewable generation retail sales by 2021 – close to nine years ahead of schedule. TEP is now setting its sights on new carbon emission reduction goals and has partnered with the University of Arizona to develop a carbon reduction target for the utility's 2020 Integrated Resource Plan.
By Business Insurance
RNG Offers Lower-Carbon Option For Natural Gas Utilities
An interconnection guidance document released this week outlines the ways that renewable natural gas (RNG) can be effectively incorporated into local natural gas systems – to reduce carbon emissions, support local economic development, and utilize local supply resources. The report, "Interconnect Guide for Renewable Natural Gas in New York State," was prepared by the Northeast Gas Association (NGA) and GTI, sponsored by and in coordination with several New York State natural gas utilities. While developed for New York State, this report provides a guideline for RNG pipeline interconnections that will be applicable and of value throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Renewable natural gas – or RNG – is a pipeline-compatible, gaseous fuel derived from biomass or other renewable sources. It has lower lifecycle CO2e emissions than geological natural gas and is compositionally equivalent and fully interchangeable with natural gas. It is the product of raw biogas (from anaerobic digestion) or syngas (from biomass gasification) that has been upgraded to pipeline quality.
By PR Newswire
Middlebury College Partners with Goodrich Farm on RNG Project
Middlebury College broke ground on an anaerobic digester facility at the end of August, pushing the college towards its goal of using 100% renewable energy sources by 2028. The digester, the first of its kind in Vermont, will combine cow manure and food waste to convert the energy stored in organic materials present in the manure into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG).
During the event, spokespeople from the college, Vanguard Renewables, Goodrich Farm and the State of Vermont gathered at Goodrich Farm in Salisbury, Vt., to discuss the significance of the facility for the community and the college.
By Cecelia Scheuer, The Middlebury Campus
Casualties in Fight Over New Gas Pipelines: The customers
Chris Miles and his partners were ready to open their new seaside barbecue joint just in time for the summer season when they got stunning news: There would be no gas to fuel the fryers, griddles and stoves.
National Grid, the utility that serves the Rockaway Beach section of Queens, refused to turn on natural gas service. It had declared a moratorium on new hookups after the state rejected an application for a new pipeline in May.
By Mary Esch, Seattle Times
Duke Energy Plans to Zero out Carbon Emissions by 2050
One of America’s largest power companies — which includes more than 600,000 Upstate customers — plans to zero out its carbon emissions by 2050, its CEO announced Tuesday.
“For more than a decade, we’ve been a leader in cleaner energy generation. I’m proud of that record, but we’re not going to rest there. We must continue to build on this strong foundation,” Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good said in a video statement unveiling the plan. “Everyone, starting with our employees, our customers and our communities expects that we are going to reduce emissions and protect the environment, and that’s exactly what we are doing.”
By Index Journal
Marion County, Oregon to Vote on Waste-to-energy Contract with Covanta
Marion County, Ore., Commissioners are expected to vote on a one-year contract proposal with Covanta that would keep the company’s waste-to-energy (WTE) facility from closing.
The vote, according to the Statesman Journal, comes two days before the county’s contract with Covanta will expire. The report also notes that contract negotiations stalled this summer after Oregon’s legislature failed to pass a bill, requested by Covanta, that would have designated trash incineration as renewable energy.
By Waste 360
Governor Kate Brown Holds Ceremony to Sign SB98 for Renewable Natural Gas
Today, Governor Kate Brown gathered with NW Natural and other supporters to ceremoniously sign another landmark bill for the State of Oregon: Senate Bill 98 allows utilities to acquire renewable natural gas on behalf of customers and is the first of its kind in the nation.
Renewable natural gas is a zero carbon resource produced from local organic materials like food, agricultural and forestry waste, wastewater, or landfills, which can be added into the existing natural gas system.
By Global Newswire
NW Natural Launches 'Try It First' Natural Gas Truck Loan Program
NW Natural today has launched a Truck Loan Program where qualified fleet owners can borrow and test a heavy-duty 12-liter class 8 compressed natural gas truck for up to three weeks.
The utility company said the "try it first" program allows fleet owners to experience the similarities between natural gas trucks and diesel trucks with respect to power, drivability, fuel range, and fuel availability — and also the lower fuel costs and environmental benefits that natural gas trucks provide.
By Jim Redden, Pamplin Media