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July 11, 2014
On July 2, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule that qualifies renewable biogas sourced from a number of new feedstocks as advanced fuel pathways under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). New pathways include compressed and liquefied natural gas produced from landfills, municipal waste-water treatment facilities, and agricultural digesters as well as municipal solid waste (MSW). Additionally, electricity sourced from biogas that is specifically used to power electric vehicles now qualifies for renewable fuel credits.
The waste from homes and businesses that ends up in landfills decomposes to create landfill gas, which is a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Landfill methane is the third largest source of anthropogenic methane in the atmosphere in the United States, and according to the EPA, landfill gas accounts for 17.7 percent of domestic methane emissions. Captured methane can either be stored, or converted into an energy source. Of the 1,900 landfills in the United States, about 560 are already using methane capture technology to convert methane into electricity. Previously, the EPA had allowed biogas to qualify for RFS credits only if it was used as a gas. Under the new rule, entities will now be able to generate credits from electricity produced from biogas, which could create an incentive for more landfill operators to capture and convert the landfill gas from their facility and lower methane emissions.
By including biogas as a source for electric vehicles, the rule also provides opportunities for developing the electric vehicle infrastructure. Incentives in the electric vehicle sector are typically targeted at the consumer. By providing RFS credits for electricity produced from biogas, the rule creates an incentive for utilities to invest in renewable fuels. According to Karen Glitman, director of transportation efficiency at the Vermont Energy Investment Corp., the rule “provides utilities with incredible motivation to support EVs so they can access this revenue stream.” Vermont alone has more electricity available through biogas than the current fleet of EVs in the state, and according to Glitman, the state’s digesters could support 30,000 EVs!
This rule also paves the way for other renewable energy sources to be included under RFS in the future. EESI applauds the EPA’s willingness to consider new feedstocks and energy sources under the RFS, and the recognition that biogas-derived fuels offer significant greenhouse gas reductions that are necessary to qualify it as a cellulosic biofuel. While there will be an adjustment period before biogas producers are able to qualify for RINs, opening up additional pathways to RFS credits is in direct conflict with EPA’s proposal to lower the renewable volumes for 2014, and the already chilling effect that this has had on the advanced cellulosic industry and its investors. The addition of new renewable fuel pathways warrants the Administration's consideration of a reversal on the lowered volumes for advanced fuels, as more and more advanced feedstocks and fuels reach commercial viability.
For more information see:
In new twist, RFS could boost electric vehicles, E&E Publishing, LLC
EPA Issues Final Rule for Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Pathways II and Modiications to the RFS Program, Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Requirements, and E15 Misfueling Mitigation Requirements, EPA
EPA finalizes RFS rules establishing new pathways, QAP, Ethanol Producer Magazine
Author: Amanda Kastrinos
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