NGVAmerica News Week in Review: September 5, 2017

• Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Awarded $3.8 Million DOE Grant
• NGVAmerica Joins with Other Associations in Commenting on 2018 RFS Levels for Cellulosic Biofuel
• SoCalGas Streamlines Processes to Support Renewable Gas Projects
• Piedmont Natural Gas CNG Refueling Station in North Carolina
• Sauer Compressors USA Offers Lifetime Warranty Program
• New Holland Shows Concept Natural Gas Powered Tractor at Farm Progress Show
• Konsberg Maritime Wins Contract for New LNG Fueled Ferry

Kansas City Regional Clean Cities Awarded $3.8 Million DOE Grant

August 30, 2017

Metropolitan Energy Center and Kansas City Regional Clean Cities have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for federal funding to move the adoption of clean, domestic fuels even further into the transportation mainstream. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced that Kansas City Clean Cities was one of five organizations nationwide sharing a total of $13.4 million in competitive grants.

This funding will assist multiple projects and fuels in both Missouri and Kansas.  Private- and public-sector partners will cover just over half of total costs with their own commitments to cleaner fleets, new infrastructure and improved fueling facilities.

The grant covers the following natural gas projects:

• An expanded time-fill CNG fueling facility for the City of Garden City, Kansas, and new CNG-powered heavy duty trash haulers
• Publicly accessible CNG fueling at the Sapp Brothers Travel Center in Harrisonville, Missouri
• Additional CNG and electric-drive (EV) vehicles for Kansas City, Missouri’s municipal fleet
• Expanded public CNG fueling for the City of El Dorado, Kansas
• Expanded time-fill CNG fueling infrastructure for the Blue Springs, Missouri R-IV School District
• New public CNG stations along I-70 in Salina and Wakeeney, Kansas

Although designed for access by any CNG vehicle, the two stations in Salina and Wakeeney are planned with heavy freight traffic in mind. They will close a natural gas fueling gap that stretches from Topeka to Denver, and will further encourage CNG adoption by additional freight fleets.

The Metropolitan Energy Center projects a cumulative reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 3,377 metric tons by the end of year three of the project and the elimination of 46,375 barrels of petroleum.  A conservative estimate shows savings of $888,615 in fuel costs through the end of year three for our partners and for fleets and drivers making the switch to the cleaner, domestically produced fuel.

NGVAmerica Joins with Other Associations in Commenting on 2018 RFS Levels for Cellulosic Biofuel

September 5, 2017

Last Thursday, NGVAmerica joined with the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, the Solid Waste Association of North America, Energy Vision, and National Waste and Recycling Association in urging the U.S. EPA to revise the 2018 target for cellulosic biofuels. Citing the recent significant growth of renewable natural gas, which contributes to the cellulosic biofuel requirements, and pointing to information on recent activities and planned project completions, the joint comments urge the EPA to increase the target and thereby support the continued growth of this important industry segment.

As currently proposed, the renewable fuel volume obligation (RVO) set by EPA for cellulosic biofuel in 2018 would be 238 million gallons. The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas however anticipates based on current projections that industry will produce 252 million ethanol gallon equivalents (EGE) of cellulosic biofuel in 2017. For 2018, the association is projecting that producers will supply 417 million EGE of cellulosic biofuel. The joint comments caution that setting the RVO at a level that is so much lower than planned production levels will harm the industry’s growth and investments that have been made. The comments request that EPA establish a minimum RVO of 345 million EGE for cellulosic biofuel.

EPA’s approach to setting the RVO levels for 2018 differs from the approach used in past years that had factored projects recently approved and in the planning process. The new approach used by EPA looks at historical growth levels but does not account for new or planned projects.  In response to criticism that the previous process was not fully transparent, the Coalition of Renewable Natural Gas has submitted signed affidavits from biofuel producers and has made the information part of the public record. EPA is expected to release a final rule by November 30.

In addition to signing on to the joint comments, NGVAmerica also provided testimony at the EPA hearing held in Washington, DC on August 1.

For more information, contact Jeff Clarke at 202.824.7364 or jclarke@NGVAmerica.org.

SoCalGas Streamlines Processes to Support Renewable Gas Projects

August 22, 2017

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced new initiatives that will make it easier for renewable gas production facilities to connect to the company’s natural gas pipeline system. First, SoCalGas has created a downloadable toolkit to assist renewable gas producers and developers who are interested in interconnecting their projects with the SoCalGas pipeline network. In addition, new provisions will enable SoCalGas and renewable gas producers to accelerate the interconnection process by procuring the necessary material much earlier than previously allowed.

About 80 percent of all methane emissions in California come from the state’s dairy and farm operations, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. That methane can be harnessed and cleaned to produce renewable natural gas for use in transportation, as well as in homes and businesses.

Already, 60 percent of the fuel used in natural gas vehicles in California is renewable, and SoCalGas expects that to increase to 90 percent by 2018. This can help reduce the need for other fossil-based fuels, and increase our supplies with a local renewable fuel.

“Since 1988 all but two renewable natural gas projects have been developed outside of California—which explains why the state imports most of the renewable natural gas (RNG) it consumes,” said Johannes Escudero, chief executive officer and executive director of the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas. “That is changing—and we appreciate SoCalGas’ leadership and ongoing commitment to the RNG Coalition and industry.”

SoCalGas is also working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas, by capturing methane emissions to decarbonize its pipelines. SoCalGas aims to build and operate more renewable natural gas interconnection facilities throughout California to bring more clean, renewable natural gas to its customers. This summer the company will complete its first renewable natural gas interconnection project in Perris, California.  When the project is completed, renewable natural gas produced by a waste management company will power a fleet of more than 320 waste hauling trucks.

SoCalGas reviewed its current system and identified several areas that would smooth the path to interconnection for renewable natural gas developers.

One enhancement, approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on April 8, enables SoCalGas and potential interconnectors to speed the process by procuring the necessary materials much earlier than previously allowed. Previously, procurement of these materials could only be done when the interconnection studies were concluded and a construction agreement was executed.

Piedmont Natural Gas CNG Refueling Station in North Carolina

August 30, 2017

Piedmont Natural Gas has added a new location to its network of public CNG refueling stations in Hickory, North Carolina, a sign of growing demand as more companies are choosing to convert their commercial fleets to clean, affordable natural gas.

The Hickory station, located near the junction of Interstate 40 and U.S. 321, is the 11^th public refueling station Piedmont has opened throughout its service territory of North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

“Piedmont has a strong commitment to sustainable business practices and reducing our impact on the environment,” said Karl Newlin, senior vice president and chief commercial officer for natural gas operations for Piedmont’s parent company, Duke Energy. “As part of that commitment, we’re doing our part to promote the use of natural gas vehicles by helping to build out a network of public refueling facilities.”

Piedmont has converted 38 percent of its own fleet to run on CNG and expects that number to grow. Piedmont’s conversion efforts have helped them earn recognition as a top utility environmental champion in a survey of utility customers nationwide.

The Hickory fueling station is open to commercial fleet vehicles and the general public. The station accepts all major fleet cards and all major credit cards, and the layout of the station allows for easy access for large trucks.

Sauer Compressors USA Offers Lifetime Warranty Program

August 30, 2017

Sauer Compressors USA announced it is now offering a lifetime warranty on all medium and high pressure air and gas compressors.

“Putting a lifetime warranty behind our compressors will give our customers the ultimate confidence when investing in our products; knowing our solutions will last them a lifetime,” said CEO of Sauer Compressors USA, Don Eaton.

Customers can take advantage of this warranty upon the purchase of a new compressor. Sauer says the Lifetime Warranty will provide peace of mind to the customer that the compressor purchased will be protected as long as the proper scheduled maintenance is completed with Genuine Sauer Spare Parts.  An option for a Set Budget Maintenance Agreement will be available at the time of purchase giving customers the benefit of long term budget planning and worry free maintenance, if desired.

New Holland Shows Concept Natural Gas Powered Tractor at Farm Progress Show

August 29, 2017

New Holland Agriculture presented a natural gas powered concept tractor at the Farm Progress Show held last week in Decatur, Illinois. New Holland imagines the farm of the future as being completely energy independent: a farm that produces not only food, but also the biomass it needs to generate the energy it uses to run its operations and power its tractors and other machinery.

The new methane powered concept tractor builds on the foundations of the previous T6 Methane Power prototypes to achieve a significant technological advance. It features a powertrain specifically developed for agriculture applications by FPT Industrial. The 6-cylinder NEF methane engine delivers the same power and torque as its standard diesel equivalent.

In real field conditions, the natural gas powered concept tractor produces at least 10 percent lower CO2 emissions and reduces overall emissions by 80 percent compared to a standard diesel tractor. Its environmental performance further improves when fueled by biomethane produced from crop residues and waste from farm-grown energy crops, which results in virtually zero CO2 emissions.

Konsberg Maritime Wins Contract for New LNG Fueled Ferry

September 3, 2017

Kongsberg Maritime has been awarded an Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation (EPCI) contract for an integrated vessel solution with Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG).

The ‘Full Picture’ contract, valued at approximately $24 million, covers engineering, procurement and project management, maritime technology deliveries and installation on a LNG fueled RoPax Ferry for French company Brittany Ferries Ltd. This is the second RoPax contract that Kongsberg Maritime has been awarded at FSG.

The LNG-powered ferry, which will be named Honfleur, will be equipped with 255 passenger cabins and several restaurants, bars and lounges on two decks, with a total capacity of 1,800 passengers and crew. Kongsberg Maritime’s sophisticated automation and control technology will support the vessel’s design to enable optimal fuel consumption, while meeting current and known future environmental regulations.