RNG NEWS
Stay up to date with the latest stories, insights, and announcements.US Emissions Dropped in 2023: Rhodium
In 2023, the US experienced something it hasn’t since before the COVID-19 pandemic: a growing economy paired with shrinking greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. After two years of emissions growth, while the country rebounded from the pandemic and its associated economic disruptions, we estimate that emissions were down 1.9% year-on-year in 2023, while the economy expanded by 2.4% over the course of the year. US emissions remained below pre-pandemic levels and dropped to 17.2% below 2005 levels.
A relatively mild winter and declining generation from coal power plants drove down emissions in the power and buildings sectors. Transportation sector emissions rose by 1.6%, though fuel consumption still held below pre-pandemic levels, while increases in domestic oil and gas production led to a 1% increase in industrial emissions. It’s still too early to say whether the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) will fully achieve their projected emissions impacts. A decline in economy-wide emissions is a step in the right direction, but that rate of decline needs to more than triple and sustain at that level every year from 2024 through 2030 in order to meet the US’s climate target under the Paris Agreement of a 50-52% reduction in emissions.
Hottest Year Ever, What Can Be Done? Plenty: More Renewables and Nuclear, Less Methane and Meat
Whenever there is bad news about climate change, people ask: What can be done?
Tuesday’s news, that 2023 shattered annual heat records, will likely prompt such questions. The European climate agency said average global temperatures were 1.48 degrees Celsius (2.66 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than pre-industrial times. That’s barely within the international goal countries agreed to in the 2015 Paris climate accord to avoid a world devastated by climate change.
Florida Bill Promoting Renewable Natural Gas Clears Senate Committee
A proposal from Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-St. Petersburg, cleared a Senate committee Tuesday that would promote renewable natural gas projects in Florida, or RNG.
SB 480 gained approval from the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries 7-0. It now requires approval from the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government.
Waga Energy Signs RNG Agreement for Indiana Landfill Site
Waga Energy, a global expert in the production of renewable natural gas (RNG) from landfills, has signed an agreement with Decatur Hills Landfill to produce RNG at the Greensburg landfill in Indiana, US.
As part of this agreement, Waga Energy will fund construction of an RNG production facility using its patented WAGABOX technology, to upgrade landfill gas (LFG) into pipeline-quality RNG.
Natural Gas Industry Forecasting RNG Growing as Investments Climb
As policies incentivizing clean energy continue to mount, renewable natural gas (RNG) is poised for more growth, the scale of which could depend on the outcome of state and federal legislation.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) launched investments into alternative fuels, including RNG, in part because of the expansion of investment tax credits (ITC) offered. Last year “sent a really strong signal for investment,” RNG Coalition spokesperson Dylan Chase told NGI.
GIP Finalizes Sale of ITCs for RNG Project in Colorado
Clean energy company Green Impact Partners has executed the final Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) in relation to the Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) for the GreenGas Colorado renewable natural gas (RNG) project.
As a result of achieving this milestone, the company will receive a contingent payment from Amber Infrastructure, which agreed to buy a 50% stake in the project in Colorado early last year. At the time, GIP said it was to receive $28.5 million upon close and a further $15.5 million “upon the potential future completion of a third-party sale” of credits associated with the project.
Federal RNG Incentives in Spotlight; Plus News From Burnham RNG, Waga Energy and More
The renewable natural gas industry capped off a busy year with plans to push forward new regulatory incentives. The federal measures, including a transportation fuel tax credit, would add additional tailwinds to RNG production at a time when D3 RIN prices have been on a steady climb for six months.
The U.S. Treasury also released guidance in December on how it planned to implement the Clean Hydrogen Production Credit, a program created by the Inflation Reduction Act and known as Section 45V in the tax code. Some landfill operators hope to see the program made available for hydrogen produced from biogas or RNG, though it’s unclear how likely that is with the current rule language. Public comment for Section 45V is open until Feb. 26.
SJI and Captona Announce Construction of one of Largest Food Waste-to-RNG Facilities in US
SJI remains committed to investing in projects to advance the clean energy and decarbonization goals of New Jersey and our region. SJI, Captona, and RNG Energy Solutions have announced their partnership to construct one of the largest food waste-to-renewable natural gas (RNG) projects in the United States. The Linden Renewable Energy (LRE) Project, based in Linden, NJ will convert organic waste into pipeline-quality RNG that can be used for a variety of applications to displace fossil fuels.
Decarbonizing With Renewable Natural Gas: KPMG
Renewable natural gas (RNG) is increasingly gaining recognition as a promising renewable fuel — especially in the hard-to-abate use cases — given its unique environmental properties. Learn how KPMG can help organizations analyze the economic and sustainability impact of RNG investments in our recent thought leadership.
British Columbia Revamps Low Carbon Fuel Regs, Requires SAF
The government of British Columbia on December 11 released regulations for its revamped low carbon fuels program, becoming the first jurisdiction in North America to require the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
British Columbia in 2008 first passed legislation to establish a Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The LCFS was implemented in 2013. The government of British Columbia in 2022 passed a new Low Carbon Fuels Act, along with amendments in 2023, to replace the 2008 legislation. The province on December 11 published rules for the new Low Carbon Fuels Regulation, which is set to become effective on January 1, 2024.
Don’t miss an update—join our weekly newsletter below.