RNG NEWS
Republic Services Expands Organics Recycling in California with Anaerobic Digestion Facility
Republic Services today announced a significant expansion of its organics recycling operations in California with the acquisition of North State Bioenergy, an anaerobic digestion facility north of Sacramento. California requires the diversion of food and yard waste from landfills as part of its climate strategy, and this important infrastructure will play a key role in helping Republic customers comply with the law and meet their own sustainability goals.
"Republic Services is a leader in recycling and composting in California, and we're committed to helping our customers divert valuable material from the waste stream and reduce emissions," said Pete Keller, vice president of recycling and sustainability. "California is taking bold steps to address climate challenges, and we're continuing to invest in solutions that enable greater circularity and support decarbonization."
More Bio-, Hydrogen-based Marine Fuels Required for Net-Zero Emissions: Shell
The shipping industry will need to significantly increase its uptake of bio- and hydrogen-based marine fuels by 2040 to help the world achieve net-zero emissions by midcentury, Shell said in its energy security scenarios report.
In the report published March 21, the UK major explored how the energy mix will evolve in two scenarios -- Archipelagos, where net-zero will be "in sight" but not achieved by 2100, and Sky 2050, where net-zero will be reached by midcentury, a condition scientists said would be required to avoid climate disasters.
Elkton Dairy Farm Joins Green Energy Effort
Zwemmer Dairy in Elkton is joining a growing number of farms in an effort to help the environment.
It has leased a plot of land to South Jersey Industries so the company can build a methane digester at the farm's Z-Star location in Caseville.
The digester takes cow manure from the farm and processes its methane output into usable energy, contained as a liquid in heavily-pressurized tanks.
Hawaiian Airlines and Gevo Enter into Sustainable Aviation Fuel Sales Agreement
Hawaiian Airlines today announced that it has reached an agreement with biofuel company Gevo, Inc. to purchase 50 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) over five years. Gevo expects to supply the SAF from a facility to be constructed in the Midwestern United States and begin deliveries to Hawaiian's gateway cities in California starting in 2029.
"This offtake agreement gets us one step closer to achieving our goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050," said Peter Ingram, Hawaiian's president and CEO. "We intend to continue to invest in SAF, which will be pivotal in reducing our impact on the environment."
U.S. Gain and Entech Solutions Bring Renewable Energy to a Wisconsin Dairy Digester
U.S. Gain is excited to share its first integration of a solar microgrid at its Dallmann East River Dairy digester in Brillion, Wisconsin. This U.S. Gain-owned digester has been producing renewable natural gas for the transportation industry since August 2020.
Representing a major step forward for innovation in rural Wisconsin, this project highlights the integration of sustainability progress and energy independence into the farming and renewable natural gas communities. Using solar panels, renewable electricity is generated and used to power day-to-day digester operations. This electricity can also be stored in onsite batteries to be used at night or on cloudy days. Additionally, through onsite combined heat and power technology, heat is captured and repurposed to reduce natural gas demand.
BioTown Biogas Activates Digester & Processing Facility, Becoming One of Largest Renewable Natural Gas Producers in North America
BioTown Biogas is activating its new digester and processing facility, one of the largest on-farm biodigesters in the world. The activation is being marked by an on-site commissioning ceremony and ribbon cutting, to be attended by Indiana Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch and other elected and business leaders.
BTB sources food waste, dairy manure, beef manure, and other agriculture waste to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) and renewable electric power. The new facility, located in Reynolds, Indiana, is expected to generate more than 42 million kilowatt-hours of renewable power per year, while also producing more than three million gallons of renewable fuel per year.
Connecticut Governor Discusses Food Waste Management with Industry Leaders
According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, last year’s trash plant closure has led to an estimated 860,000 tons of waste per year being shipped out of state. “Why would we want to be sending our valuable food scraps, paying a premium to ship it to Pennsylvania when we could divert that material right here to Berlin, Southington?” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes.
Dykes said Connecticut has a number of food processing plants already, such as Bright Feeds in Berlin, which converts food waste into animal feed. There’s also Quantum Biopower in Southington. “We’re taking in food waste materials, and in our case, we’re converting them into renewable natural gas and using that gas as a fuel source,” said Quantum Biopower Vice President Brian Paganini.
W&J Speakers Tout Sustainable Energy From Trash
Tom Spears isn’t the only official who doesn’t believe in wasting waste.
“You can create renewable energy from waste,” said Spears, Capitol Area gas operations manager for WM. “Our company has the largest network of active solid waste landfills in North America — 255 of them. Landfill gas collected from decomposing waste is used to power turbine engines that produce electricity.”
Spears was one of three speakers who discussed “Renewable Natural Gas: Sustainable Energy from Trash” during the most recent online seminar organized by the Center for Energy Policy and Management at Washington & Jefferson College. The event, part of CEPM’s Energy Lecture Series, was held March 8.
Virginia Natural Gas Receives Approval From Virginia State Corporation Commission for Renewable Natural Gas Pilot Program
A five-year pilot from Virginia Natural Gas aims to encourage the development of renewable natural gas production facilities within the VNG service territory. Recently approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, the RNG Interconnect pilot program also authorizes the company to integrate RNG into its natural gas distribution system.
The pilot is part of the energy company's Sustainable Gas Program, which will allow for the production and delivery of RNG into VNG's pipeline system and support the procurement of both RNG and Next Generation Natural Gas. This is complementary to VNG's path to reach net-zero direct greenhouse emissions from its operations by 2050.
HASI Invests in Bioenergy Devco's Growth of Anaerobic Digestion Facilities
Bioenergy Devco, the North American division of BTS Bioenergy, on March 21 announced a $30 million investment by Annapolis-based HASI, a climate solutions investor.
The financing, secured by Bioenergy Devco's Maryland Bioenergy Center – Jessup facility, which operates in Jessup, Maryland, will support the development of anaerobic digestion facilities across the U.S. to bring sustainable organic waste recycling, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and a sustainable energy resource to more communities in North America.