Renewable Natural Gas Motor Fuel Interest Continues Growth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Dan Gage (NGVAmerica)
dgage@ngvamerica.org
Lesley Dalton (RNG Coalition)
lesley@rngcoalition.com

RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS MOTOR FUEL INTEREST CONTINUES GROWTH
RNG
Accounted for 64 Percent of On-Road NGV Fuel Use in 2021

Washington, DC – Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) and Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) today announced that 64 percent of all on-road fuel used in natural gas vehicles in calendar year 2021 was renewable natural gas (RNG).

Captured above ground from organic material in agricultural, wastewater, landfill, or food waste, RNG can produce carbon-negative results when fueling on-road vehicles like short- and long-haul trucks, transit buses, and refuse and recycling collection vehicles. California Air Resources Board data confirms that the annual average carbon intensity (CI) value of California’s bio-CNG vehicle fuel portfolio in its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program was carbon negative and below zero at -44.41 gCO2e/MJ for calendar year 2021(1).

RNG use as a transportation fuel grew 13 percent over 2020 volumes, up 234 percent from 2017 levels. NGVAmerica and RNG Coalition report that in 2021 a total of 610 million gallons (GGE) (2) of natural gas were used as motor fuel. Of that, 390 million gallons (GGE) were from renewable sources(3).

“Transitioning to renewable natural gas-fueled vehicles is the most affordable and immediate climate positive change a fleet can make today,” said Dan Gage, President of NGVAmerica. “With current savings of up to $2.60/gallon or more over diesel, fleets can slash annual fueling costs while virtually eliminating NOx and particulate matter emissions and decarbonizing their freighting operations.”

“Renewable Natural Gas supply is growing,” said Johannes Escudero, Founder & CEO of Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas. “With 250 RNG facilities transforming waste into fuel, and another 237 facilities on the way, we are increasingly able to affordably offer consumers the opportunity to decarbonize with RNG – the cleanest of any fuel available today.”

RNG use as a motor fuel in 2021 displaced 3.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Put into perspective, RNG motor fuel use last year(4):Lowered greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to removing the GHG from over 9.4 billion miles driven by the average passenger car;Eliminated CO2 emissions, equivalent to removing CO2 emissions from more than 427 million gallons of gasoline consumed; and Sequestered carbon, equal to growing close to 63 million tree seedlings for ten years, or 4.5 million acres of U.S. forests for one year.

Details of today’s report – including graphics – can be accessed at: NGVAmerica’s website HERE and RNG Coalition’s website HERE. ###NGVAmerica is a national trade association of sustainability solutionists and experts in the clean transportation field. Our roughly 200 members are dedicated to the development of a growing, profitable, and sustainable market for vehicles, ships and carriers powered by natural gas and biomethane. NGVAmerica member companies produce, distribute, and market natural gas and biomethane across North America, manufacture and service natural gas vehicles, engines, and equipment, and operate fleets powered by clean-burning gaseous fuels. Find out more at: www.ngvamerica.org.

Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas is the non-profit association providing public policy advocacy and education for the sustainable development, deployment, and utilization of renewable natural gas in North America. RNG Coalition membership is comprised of 360+ leading companies, municipalities, ports and airports, colleges, and universities throughout the United States and Canada. Find out more at www.rngcoalition.com.

1. California Air Resources Board, Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program, Certified Fuel Pathways. Q1-Q4, 2021. Available at: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/lcfs-pathway-certified-carbon-intensities.2. GGE = gasoline gallon equivalent.
3. Total Natural Gas in Transportation Figure derived from U.S. EIA’s Annual Energy Outlook (2022) and RNG numbers derived from U.S. EPA Renewable Fuel Standard Program reporting with adjustments made based on fueler member reporting.
4. 3,797,430 metric tons of CO2e eliminated in 2021 through RNG usage calculated using CARB’s LCFS carbon intensity (CI) numbers. Total GHG emissions and associated CO2e metric tons identified using average CI scores of -44.41 g/MJ for Bio-CNG and 60.3 g/MJ for Bio-LNG as reported in calendar year 2021 under the California LCFS and based on the percentage of RNG reported under the RFS Program – CNG (85.3%) and LNG (14.7%).