RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.Manure From California Dairy Farm Powers 17,000 Electric Vehicles
Mooove over, Big Oil. Cows from Bar 20 Dairy in California are helping fuel more than 17,000 electric vehicles. Seven thousand cows from Bar 20 Dairy near Fresno are providing manure to the project. The manure goes from “cow houses” into a pipeline and covered lagoon outfitted with a “first-of-its-kind, next generation, climate-smart digester,” the dairy says.
The anaerobic system captures methane gas from the manure that’s converted into renewable electricity via fuel cells. The power is transmitted to the utility grid through a partnership with BMW North America and used to power electric vehicles.
Opinion: Hydrogen’s Time in the Energy Mix Has Come
In a residential neighborhood on suburban Long Island, New York, a clean energy technology that is both old and new could be the answer to eliminating carbon emissions from the entire economy across the country. In Hempstead, a project called HyGrid will blend green hydrogen with renewable natural gas to safely and reliably heat homes, while slashing emissions. The project will cleanly heat just 800 or more homes for now, but successful pilots like this foreshadow what might be on the horizon throughout the U.S.
Hydrogen has been touted as the long-awaited solution to curbing climate change, but widespread adoption has been a slow crawl. Now, tucked into the 700-plus-page Inflation Reduction Act signed by the president, hydrogen stands to benefit more than any other clean energy technology. The legislation could result in hydrogen becoming cost-competitive and even less expensive than fossil fuels by 2030.
Biden Signs New SAF, Hydrogen, Clean Fuel Tax Credits into Law
President Joe Biden on August 16 signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, calling the legislation the “biggest step forward in climate—ever” and stressing it will allow the U.S. to boldly take additional steps towards meeting its climate goals.
Of interest to the biofuel and bioenergy industries, the newly signed law establishes new tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), clean transportation fuels and clean hydrogen. It also extends several existing tax credits that benefit transportation biofuels, such as renewable diesel and biodiesel, and includes funding for biofuel infrastructure development. Other provisions of the bill support the production of biogas- and biomass-based electricity and offer tax incentives for homeowners to install biomass-fired residential heating appliances.
Massachusetts Climate Bill Includes Anaerobic Digesters in State Peak Energy Incentive Program
Massachusetts will consider certain biogas from anaerobic digesters and landfill gas facilities to be eligible for the state’s peak energy incentive program now that Gov. Charlie Baker has signed H 5060, a major climate bill meant to reduce the state’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Starting in 2023, certain AD facilities will be able to claim energy credits under the state Clean Peak Standard program, which provides incentives for “clean energy technologies,” such as wind or solar, that can supply electricity or reduce demand during peak periods.
PACCAR to Offer Cummins X15N Natural Gas Engine
PACCAR will work with Cummins Inc. to offer the new Cummins X15N natural gas engine in Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks. The X15N is the first natural gas engine to be specifically designed for heavy-duty truck applications with up to 500 horsepower output. The engine will include the integration of the Cummins Clean Fuel Technologies fuel delivery system.
When operating on renewable natural gas, also known as RNG or biomethane, the X15N engine will be able to achieve major reductions in the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks. This can range from a 90 percent reduction to carbon neutral, or even carbon negative, depending on the bio-source and waste feedstock used to produce the fuel.
National Grid Says It Found Plenty of RNG and Hydrogen to Help Decarbonize the Northeast
National Grid says it has located what it calls “robust stocks” of renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen potentially available for customers in Massachusetts and New York.
The stocks were identified through the company’s Northeast clean energy request for information (RFI) issued in May. The company says providing RNG and hydrogen are “essential” to its plan to deliver a fossil-free gas network for customers who do not electrify their homes or businesses. Through the RFI responses, the company determined there will be at least 33 trillion BTUs (TBtus) available in the next three years, more than double the 15 TBtus needed in 2025.
A Renewable Natural Gas Plant is Proposed for the District of Thunder Bay, British Columbia
Plans are set to be announced for a new mill in the Nipigon or Greenstone area to convert underutilized wood fibre to renewable natural gas. Lake Nipigon Forest Management Inc. and British Columbia-based REN Energy International Corp. will sign a letter of intent to move forward with the planning and design of the mill.
LNFMI is a wholly-owned Indigenous company that manages the Lake Nipigon Forest under a sustainable forest licence issued by the Ontario government. If the project goes ahead, the plant will be the second of its kind constructed by REN, and the first in Canada outside B.C.
Archaea Announces Expansion of Commercial Partnership with Énergir via New 20-Year RNG Agreement
Archaea Energy Inc., an industry-leading renewable natural gas company, announced that it is expanding its commercial partnership with Énergir L.P. by entering into a new long-term RNG purchase and sale agreement. This is the second long-term commercial agreement between Archaea and Énergir, the largest natural gas distribution company in Quebec.
The RNG produced by Archaea for this expanded long-term partnership is expected to be a key contributor towards Énergir’s interim target of delivering 2% of its total annual natural gas volumes using RNG by 2023, with a longer-term target of 5% by 2025.
First Biomethane Production Plant Will be Launched in Ukraine
Chernihivgaz JSC, which belongs to the agricultural holding Gals Agro, issued technical requirements for integrating the first biomethane plant in Ukraine. Its connection to the gas distribution network is expected by the end of 2022, the Regional Gas Company reported.
Officials Praise Manure-Powered Garbage Truck
A garbage truck being billed as carbon-negative – powered with help from some local cows – has hit the road in Southwestern Ontario.
Bluewater Recycling Association, which collects waste from more than 20 municipalities in Middlesex, Huron, Perth and Lambton counties, unveiled this week its new waste collection truck that runs on renewable natural gas.
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