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Production and Delivery of Low-Carbon Gaseous Fuels

Recent increases in natural gas use in electricity generation and other applications have been widely heralded as a vital step in the transition to a clean energy economy. Natural gas is often described as a “clean” fossil fuel because its combustion emits significantly less mercury and other air toxins than coal or oil. Natural gas combustion also emits fewer GHGs than other fossil fuels. Any savings at the point of combustion may, however, be offset by GHG emissions during natural gas production. Most of those emissions take the form of methane, a highly potent GHG, released through gas leaks, venting, and flaring (where there is incomplete combustion). To reduce emissions, the DDPP technical report recommends replacing natural gas with renewable gases, such as biogas, hydrogen, and synthetic methane. The chapter discusses various government policies that may be used to support the production and use of renewable gases.

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Resource States and State Governments

New York Property Tax Exemption for Farm Waste

New York exempts property containing a solar, wind, or farm waste energy system approved by NYSERDA from taxation for 15 years. Jurisdictions have the power to opt out or back into this exemption.
Resource Executive Branch

US GAO report, Pipeline Permitting

The US Government Accountability Office’s 2013 report, Pipeline Permitting: Interstate and Intrastate Natural Gas Permitting Processes Include Multiple Steps, and Time Frames Vary, which reviewed rele...
Resource Private Entities

ABC RNG Purity Recommendation

Renewable natural gas producers represented by the American Biogas Council have argued that there is not a justification for applying different quality standards to natural and renewable gas, and ther...
Resource Executive Branch

Report, Lost But Not Forgotten: The Hidden Environmental Costs of Compensating Pipelines for Natural Gas Losses

Webb’s 2015 report examines the current frameworks for recovery of lost and unaccounted-for gas in each U.S. jurisdiction, and recommends changes to those frameworks to encourage improved management o...
Example States and State Governments

Hawaii’s Proposed SB 2818 SD 2

Hawaii’s proposed SB 2818 SD2 HD1 (2020), if passed, would “fund and require the public utilities commission to conduct a study regarding the availability, feasibility, and costs of the use of renewab...
Resource States and State Governments

Hawaii’s Proposed SB 698

In 2015, Hawaiian legislators considered a bill to prevent the state Public Utility Commission from approving a power purchase agreement if the agreement prohibits the sale of renewable energy to thir...
Resource Executive Branch

Biogas Opportunities Roadmap

The USDA’s 2014 report, Biogas Opportunities Roadmap: Voluntary Actions to Reduce Methane Emissions and Increase Energy Independence, identifies voluntary actions that can be taken to reduce methane e...
Resource Private Entities

Report, Making Your Organization Carbon Neutral with Renewable Natural Gas

Ameresco’s 2019 white paper offers the private sector insights on RNG suppliers, procurement options, and contracting models.
Resource Congress

Report, The Potential Role of Biohydrogen in Creating a Net Zero World

This January 2023 report from the Columbia SIPA Center on Global Energy Policy offers a technical analysis of the emerging applications for biohydrogen (or Bio-H2, hydrogen produced from organic waste...
Resource Congress

The Inflation Reduction Act

New: The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and Environmental Defense Fund are announcing the launch of an additional resource on the Inflation Reduction Act Tracker website: the IRA litigation case ...
Example States and State Governments

Colorado Pipeline Leaks Regulations

Colorado requires producers to inspect facilities for leaks (using audio, visual, or olfactory methods) every month, and undertake more comprehensive leak survey (using equipment to detect gas in the ...
Resource Foreign

IRENA report, Hydrogen from Renewable Power

IRENA’s 2018 report, Hydrogen from Renewable Power, assesses the state of power-to-gas technologies, hydrogen applications in end-use sectors, developing a hydrogen supply chain, and makes recommendat...
Example States and State Governments

California Renewable Gas Interconnection Incentive

California established a $40 million monetary incentive program under which certain renewable gas producers can recover a portion of their interconnection costs from gas utilities. A 2016 bill, AB 231...
Example States and State Governments

Oregon’s SB 98

Oregon’s SB 98 (2019) adopts new portfolio targets for the use of renewable natural gas by Oregon’s natural gas utilities and directs the Oregon Public Utility Commission to establish mechanisms by wh...
Example Congress

Pipeline Safety Act

The federal Pipeline Safety Act gives the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration broad authority to adopt regulations, prescribing minimum standards for the construction, operation, an...
Resource States and State Governments

Report, Promoting Renewable Natural Gas in Washington State

Washington State University’s 2018 report to the Washington State legislature identifies opportunities to support renewable natural gas in the state, including through public procurement and developme...
Example States and State Governments

Utah’s Tax Incentives for Hydrogen Production

In March 2021, Utah adopted state tax incentives for the production of hydrogen fuel. HB0223 provides that a taxpayer may claim a refundable tax credit of 12 cents per kg of hydrogen produced during t...
Example States and State Governments

Kansas rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Kansas is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Kansas requires Grade 3 leaks to be repaired within 30 month...
Example States and State Governments

New Hampshire’s Renewable Natural Gas Legislation

In June 2022, New Hampshire approved a bill allowing utilities to procure up to 5% of gas supplies from renewable natural gas and make upgrades to their distribution infrastructure to lower emissions....
Resource Congress

Report, Expanding Natural Gas Pipeline Infrastructure

The Keystone Center’s 2002 report, Expanding Natural Gas Infrastructure to Meet the Growing Demand for Cleaner Power, lists recommendations of the Pipeline Siting Work Group of the Interstate Oil and ...
Model Law States and State Governments

LPDD Model Law: Requiring a Renewable Gas Study

Since states will have different capacities for manufacturing or acquiring renewable gas, before adopting a renewable gas standard, the appropriate agency within a state should first undertake a study...
Resource Private Entities

Utility RNG Quality Standards

Biogas World notes that several gas utilities in the USA have RNG programs and their own requirements for the quality of RNG injected into their grid. A table summarizes critical parameters of RNG/bio...
Example Public Utilities

California’s Biomethane Procurement Program

In February, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved biomethane procurement targets for utilities in a bid to meet the broader goal of reducing methane and other short-lived climate...
Resource Private Entities

RNG Interconnect Guidance Document

The Northeast Gas Association prepared a 2019 RNG Interconnect Guidance Document, which aims to provide the technical framework and guidance necessary for the introduction of RNG into the natural gas ...
Resource Congress

Report, Improving Regulation of Gas Pipeline Leaks

Webb’s 2015 report, Safety First, Environment Last: Improving Regulation of Gas Pipeline Leaks, analyzes the current state and federal regulations with respect to leak detection, repair, and reporting...
Resource States and State Governments

Report: Rethinking Manure Biogas: Policy Considerations to Promote Equity and Protect the Climate and Environment

This August 2022 report from the Environmental Justice Clinic at the Vermont Law and Graduate School dives deep into the existing policies incentivizing manure biogas operations, the environmental jus...
Example States and State Governments

Missouri rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Maine is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Missouri requires that pipeline operators repair Grade 3 leak...
Resource Congress

Proposed Methane Emissions Mitigation Act

2015’s proposed Methane Emissions Mitigation Act was aimed at supporting the development of new technologies to address natural gas pipeline leaks, providing $225 million for research on leak control ...
Example States and State Governments

Virginia Bill on Natural Gas Replacement

In April 2022, both houses of the Virginia legislature passed legislation that allows natural gas utilities to include in their fuel portfolios supplemental or substitute forms of gas sources — define...
Model Law States and State Governments

LPDD Model Law: Designating State Lead Agency for Biogas Permitting

To support the increased production of biogas and the delivery to end users, the LPDD text identifies the need for changes in the regulatory framework over biogas production and delivery facilities. A...
Model Law Local Governments

LPDD Model Law: Biogas Zoning Ordinance

One of the challenges to biogas production is that production facilities are not readily classified under most existing zoning laws, which can slow project development and increase transaction costs f...
Example Executive Branch

Rural Energy for America Program

The REAP program provides grants up to $500,000 and loans to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy systems. While REAP funding is available for renewable gas systems, numerous r...
Example States and State Governments

Florida rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Florida is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Florida requires above-ground, Grade 3 leaks be repaired wi...
Example States and State Governments

New York’s Leaked Gas Cost Recovery Methodology

In New York, gas rate recovery is not linked to actual leakage each year, but rather fixed every three years to reflect historical averages. This gives pipeline operators some incentive to continuousl...
Resource Local Governments

RAP Report, Principle of Smart Heat Electrification

RAP’s 2020 report surveys policies that impact smart heat electrification, including electricity pricing, energy efficiency obligations, carbon intensity standards, financial support schemes, building...
Resource States and State Governments

Report, Optimal Pathways to Achieve Climate Goals – Inclusion of a Renewable Gas Standard

The Center for Renewable Gas prepared a 2018 report analyzing the challenge of meeting California’s carbon goals, and recommended developing a Renewable Gas Standard.
Example States and State Governments

Maine rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Maine is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Maine requires that pipeline operators repair Grade 3 leaks w...
Resource States and State Governments

Report, Securing Rights-of-Way to CO2 Pipeline Corridors in the United States

Raven and Matsushita’s 2017 report examines the U.S. pipeline system and the regulatory regime for the transportation of CO2 across public and private land, as well as some of the potential means of s...
Model Law States and State Governments

LPDD Model Law: State Renewable Gas Standard

This LPDD model state legislation addresses renewable portfolio standards with respect to renewable gas. The model legislation was prepared based on California’s proposed SB 687, which would have esta...
Resource Congress

Report, Biogas in the United States

The Nicholson Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions’ 2014 report, Biogas in the United States: An Assessment of Market Potential in a Carbon-Constrained Future, finds that generation of biogas ...
Resource Executive Branch

EPA Report, Improvements Needed in EPA Efforts to Address Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Distribution Pipelines

EPA’s 2014 report focusing on its own regulatory power over pipeline leaks recommends that the EPA work with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, develop a strategy to address t...
Resource Executive Branch

Report, Investing in the US Natural Gas Pipeline System to Support Net-Zero Targets

This April 2021 paper, part of the work by Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy on natural gas and the energy transition, examines projections of continued natural gas use and the zero...
Resource States and State Governments

Report, Growing Oregon’s Biogas Industry

Weisberg and Roth’s 2011 paper, Growing Oregon’s Biogas Industry, surveys the biogas production potential in Oregon and recommends production incentives and bridge loan programs to help realize these ...
Example Executive Branch

Advanced Biofuel Payment Program

The federal Advanced Biofuel Payment Program provides incentives for anaerobic digestion projects, including those targeted for pipeline injection, a use often excluded from state programs. The ABPP d...
Resource States and State Governments

Report, Technical Potential of Renewable Natural Gas

Olafsson’s 2014 thesis, The Technical Potential of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) in the United States, and the Economic Potential of Methanation-derived RNG in Texas, uses a thermodynamic balance to det...
Resource Congress

Proposed METHANE Act

2019’s proposed Methane Emissions from Transmission Harm American Neighborhoods and the Environment (METHANE) Act would require owners and operators of pipelines and pipeline facilities to use the bes...
Resource States and State Governments

Report, Design Principles for a Renewable Gas Standard

ICF published a 2018 white paper exploring the regulatory and policy context for RNG, RNG supply, the costs associated with RNG production, and key considerations in the development of a Renewable Gas...
Resource Private Entities

Green-e RNG standards

Green-e has embarked upon a process to create a new Green-e standard and certification program for renewable gas products and associated environmental attributes. Publication is expected in mid-2020.
Example States and State Governments

Arizona rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Arizona is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Arizona requires that pipeline operators repair underground...
Example Congress

California Biogas Quality Standards

In response to state legislation, the California PUC finalized quality standard for biogas. They prescribe acceptable concentration levels for 17 constituents of concern in biogas, including arsenic, ...
Example States and State Governments

New Jersey’s A2371 (2020)

New Jersey’s A2371 (2020) amends the state RPS’s definition of “Class I renewable energy” to include methane gas from a biomass facility (provided that the biomass is cultivated and harvested in a sus...
Example Executive Branch

FERC’s Cost Recovery Mechanism for Modernization of Natural Gas Pipelines

FERC’s 2015 rule allowed pipeline operators to recover repair and replacement costs annually, rather than waiting for the next rate case. This addressed an incentive problem in pipeline maintenance, w...
Example States and State Governments

Texas rules for repair of grade 3 pipeline leaks

Texas is among a minority of states that have passed required timelines for repairing even pipeline leaks deemed “nonhazardous” (Grade 3). Texas requires pipeline operators to repair Grade 3 leaks wit...
Resource States and State Governments

California’s proposed SB 687

Proposed SB 687 would have established a Renewable Gas Standard requiring an average carbon intensity reduction of one percent in 2020, increasing to 10 percent in 2030.
Example States and State Governments

California SB 1440

California’s SB 1440 requires the state’s PUC to consider adopting specific biomethane procurement targets or goals for each gas corporation. The bill would require the PUC to take certain actions in ...
Resource Private Entities

Renewable Natural Gas Coalition

The Renewable Natural Gas Coalition is a non-profit organization composed of RNG industry members dedicated to the sustainable advancement of RNG or biogas-derived biomethane as an alternative and dom...
Example States and State Governments

Washington’s Office of Renewable Fuels Legislation

In April 2022, Washington adopted SB 5910, establishing the statewide Office of Renewable Fuels within the Department of Commerce to support renewable fuel and electrolytic hydrogen development. The O...