RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Ontario Energy Board Approved Enbridge’s application to offer a Voluntary Renewable Natural Gas Program
On September 24, 2020 the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) issued a Decision and Order approving Enbridge Gas Inc.’s (Enbridge) application to offer a Voluntary Renewable Natural Gas Program (RNG Program), on a pilot or test basis. Residential and small business customers that take part in the RNG Program will pay a charge of $2 per month, which will be shown separately on their bills. The RNG Program is expected to start in January 2021, and can continue only as a pilot project until the OEB issues a further decision on the RNG Program, either as part of Enbridge’s next major rate application or in response to a stand-alone application filed by Enbridge.
The OEB noted that renewable natural gas (RNG) is a renewable energy source that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to conventional natural gas, and should be explored as a means of diversifying the gas supply portfolio. RNG is a higher cost alternative to conventional natural gas, and the OEB decided that exploring the addition of RNG is best done on a voluntary and pilot basis. The learnings from the pilot would lead to a better understanding of RNG options and provide information to assess future RNG program proposals.
By Ontario Energy Board
RNG Trucks Showcased in Port of Long Beach Clean Truck Parade
Southern California trucking companies have showcased their near-zero-emission (NZE) natural gas trucks in a clean truck parade to commemorate the opening of the new Port of Long Beach bridge. The seven fleet operators – NFI, Total Transportation Solutions Inc. (TTSI), MDB Transportation, Tradelink Transport, Pacific 9 Transportation, Overseas Freight and Green Trucking – collectively operate 157 natural gas heavy-duty trucks that log more than 6.4 million miles per year, hauling freight daily to and from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
In total, more than 700 natural gas trucks regularly haul freight to and from the two ports, representing approximately 6% of the active drayage truck fleet.
By Matthew Mercure, NGT News
Biogas Project Developers Work with Dairies to Capture Methane
As the dairy industry works to reduce its carbon footprint, one of the recommended actions is the use of anaerobic digesters to capture methane and convert it to renewable energy.
Various initiatives around the country continue to push the growth of biogas projects.
Progressive Dairy interviewed a few of the people working with biogas from agriculture to see how they collaborate with dairy operations to capture and utilize methane generated from cow manure. Participating in the roundtable discussion are: John Hanselman, co-founder, chairman and CEO, Vanguard Renewables; Alan Johnson, vice president project development, quasar Energy Group LLC; Bob Powell, CEO, Brightmark; and Doug VanOrnum, vice president, strategy and technology, DVO Inc.
By Progressive Dairy
USDA is Seeking Applications to Expand Production of Advanced Biofuels
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development will begin accepting applications on October 1, 2020, to expand the production of advanced biofuels produced from renewable biomass.
Rural Development is making up to $7 million available nationwide through the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program. This program makes payments to eligible producers to help offset costs associated with the production of advanced biofuel, including biodiesel, ethanol (other than from corn kernel starch), electricity, and biogas. Examples of eligible feedstocks include but are not limited to crop residue; animal, food, and yard waste; vegetable oil; and animal fat.
The enrollment period for producers to sign up to participate for fiscal year 2021 is October 1 to October 31, 2020. Both producers that participated in the program in fiscal year 2020 and producers that are new to the program must enroll to receive payments.
By USDA
EPA Announces the Selection of 12 Organizations to Receive $3 Million in Funding to Support Anaerobic Digestion in Communities
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Agency selected 12 recipients to receive approximately $3 million in funding to help reduce food loss and waste and to divert food waste from landfills by expanding anaerobic digester capacity in the United States. EPA Region 2 has selected the Central New York Technology Development Organization (TDO) to receive $235,440 in funding once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.
“Finding solutions to better curb food waste continues to be a top priority for the Trump administration,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “This year’s round of innovative community projects is focusing on ways to reduce food waste at the local and state levels and divert it from landfills.”
By EPA
Transforming the Transportation Industry with Renewable Natural Gas
With global warming and the health of our earth and its citizens in full focus due to the pandemic, anything our industry can do to contribute to our well-being is more important than ever.
For Newport Beach-based Clean Energy, helping the transportation industry cut back on carbon emissions is one of its most important goals. The company was founded in 1997 by the late T. Boone Pickens and current company President and CEO Andrew J. Littlefair on the premise that natural gas for transportation was an, abundant, domestic and clean source of energy.
By Brian Alvarado, American Infrastructure Magazine
Piedmont Natural Gas to offer Renewable Natural Gas through Nashville Fueling Station
Piedmont Natural Gas today announced that renewable natural gas (RNG) is now available at its compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station in Nashville, Tenn.
Renewable natural gas is pipeline-quality biomethane produced from biomass that is fully interchangeable with conventional natural gas and can be used in natural gas vehicles. By fueling with RNG at Piedmont’s Nashville station, fleets and organizations can further reduce their emissions footprint – helping decarbonize transportation in Tennessee.
By Duke Energy News
The City of Gatesville Partners with Ameresco to Upgrade Water Meters and Implement Automatic Metering Infrastructure
Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE: AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, today announced that it is partnering with the City of Gatesville, Texas, to replace over 3,600 city water meters as part of an automatic metering infrastructure (AMI) project. Upon completion, Gatesville residents will benefit from greater transparency into their water usage and billing, helping the community conserve more and spend less on operating its water infrastructure.
Designated by the 77th Texas Legislature as the “Spur Capital” of Texas, the City of Gatesville contracted with Ameresco in December 2019 to evaluate the potential benefits of implementing an AMI project in the city. Its focus was to achieve operational efficiencies and infrastructure improvements associated with the City’s water system, while providing tangible and intangible benefits to its residents.
By Ameresco
Why Fleet Managers at Anheuser-Busch, KeHE Distributors are Fueling up with Renewable Natural Gas
Companies of all sectors and sizes seek ways to reduce emissions across the board and increasingly are taking a far closer look at the kind of fuel powering their vehicles. While much attention has shifted to the potential for battery-electric or hydrogen vehicles, another technology with a vast infrastructure — renewable natural gas — is gaining traction among fleet managers.
"I’ve personally worked on energy issues for 10 years, and I’ve been extremely excited about the progress that’s been made in renewable natural gas," said Sam Wade, director of state regulatory affairs with the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, during a recent GreenBiz webcast exploring this trend. The discussion focused on the growth of renewable natural gas for fleets of different sizes, the production of it and how it may continue to gain popularity.
By Zac Estrada, Green Biz
UK Opens Consultation on Green Gas Levy to Support Renewable Natural Gas
The U.K. government has opened a public consultation an initiative that aims to scale up the production of renewable natural gas (RNG), also referred to as bioemethane or green gas, for use in heating applications.
According to the U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, heating homes, businesses and industry is responsible for one-third of the U.K.’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Decarbonizing heat is one of the biggest challenges the country will face in meeting its net zero target by 2050.
By Erin Voegele, Biomass Magazine
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