RNG Leaders to Share Expertise at Upcoming “Power of Waste” Conference

Leaders in the renewable natural gas (RNG) industry will gather in Los Angeles to share the keys to successful biomethane development. Utilities Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), and the national nonprofit organization Energy Vision will jointly host the free one-day conference, “The Power of Waste: Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) for California.” The event will be held at SoCalGas’ Energy Resource Center in Downey, California, on Tuesday, October 2.

Experts will discuss high-value end-use markets for RNG, and the role of the state and utilities in advancing the alternative fuel. The conference will include panel presentations on the latest RNG technologies, and regulatory and legislative solutions to developing more RNG projects. Attendees will also hear case studies on projects that produce biogas from diverted food waste and other organics, and how RNG can cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, short-lived climate pollutants, and criteria pollutants to meet California’s climate and clean air goals.

“Renewable natural gas is ripe for further development in California, and SoCalGas wants to connect to as many biogas operations as possible to deliver this climate-friendly fuel to our customers,” said Sharon Tomkins, SoCalGas vice president of customer solutions and strategy. “SoCalGas anticipates that 50 to 100 new renewable natural gas projects will be developed in California over the next 10 years based on laws designed to curb climate emissions. This conference is a chance for biogas project developers, government leadership, local and state agencies, utilities, academia and the media to learn as much as possible about the biogas business.”

Renewable natural gas from other states has already begun to clean the air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California’s transportation sector, which accounts for more than 80 percent of smog forming emissions and about 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

The latest generation of natural gas engines for heavy-duty vehicles can reduce smog-forming emissions by more than 90 percent. When fueled with RNG, these trucks reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent or more. Already, more than 70 percent of natural gas trucks in California are fueled by renewable gas delivered by SoCalGas pipelines.

The collection of methane from landfills, wastewater treatment plants, agriculture and dairies is essential for California to meet the climate change and air quality goals outlined in existing law. Methane from these projects can then be used as renewable natural gas for transportation, electrical generation, and other uses.

Stakeholders are encouraged to attend the Power of Waste workshop at no cost. For more information and to register, click here.