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2019 Renewable Natural Gas Workshop

RNG Workshop

Peppermill Reno - Reno, Nevada | September 24, 2019
Sponsored by the U.S. EPA and the American Gas Association (AGA)

The 3rd Annual AGA-EPA Natural Gas STAR/Methane Challenge Renewable Natural Gas Workshop took place at the Peppermill Reno in Reno, Nevada, in conjunction with the AGA 2019 Operations Section Fall Committee Meetings. This Workshop was hosted by EPA’s Natural Gas STAR and Methane Challenge Programs, in collaboration with the American Gas Association (AGA).

View or Download Presentations. Scroll down to view recordings of the presentations. You may download a specific presentation by clicking on the name of the presentation.

WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

  • John P. Hester, President & CEO, Southwest Gas
    This presentation is not available.

THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Hear a public utility commissioner discuss why RNG is of growing interest to their state residents and gas operators, and how the commission weighs the demands for emissions reductions alongside the mandate to ensure just and reasonable rates.  

  • Hayley Williamson, Nevada State Utility Commissioner
    This presentation is not available.

UPDATE: STATE RNG APPROACHES

Learn from LDCs seeking to offer an RNG product to their customers, and from companies pursuing RNG in response to state climate or energy goals.  Hear from operators and developers about customer demand for RNG, using RNG to lower carbon emissions, and their engagement with regulatory utility commissions.

  • Moderator: Mary Moerlins,  Community Affairs and Environmental Programs Manager, NW Natural
  • Nick Mark, Manager Conservation & Renewable Energy Policy, CenterPoint Energy
    This presentation is not available.
  • Angus King, Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Summit Utilities
    This presentation is not available.
  • Daryl Maas, Chief Executive Officer, Maas Energy Works
    This presentation is not available.

RNG INTERCONNECTION GUIDELINES

Does your company have specific RNG interconnection guidelines -- covering access requirements, metering, gas quality monitoring, valving, custody transfer signal sharing and more? Or, have you been involved in a project with an interconnection? Learn how unique gas quality and other interconnection issues associated with RNG are being addressed.

  • Moderator: Pam Lacey, Chief Regulatory Counsel, AGA
  • RNG Interconnection Guidelines (pdf) (543.22 KB) , Scott Reising, Senior Engineer Gas, Black Hills Energy
  • RNG Interconnect Guideline for New York (pdf) (2.18 MB) , Melissa Mauro, Pressure Regulation Engineering, National Grid
  • Lessons Learned from RNG Interconnections (pdf) (275.68 KB) ,Gus Simmons, Director of Bioenergy, Cavanaugh and Associates
  • RNG Interconnection Overview (pdf) (2.73 MB) ,Nate Taylor, Commercial Development Manager, SoCalGas

THE ROLE OF RNG IN AN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY’S SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY

  • Sharing Beauty With All (pdf) (2.17 MB) , Jay Harf, Vice President - Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability, L'Oreal

RNG SUCCESS STRATEGIES: THREE CASE STUDIES

Learn how operators and developers overcame specific challenges to successfully bring RNG onto the gas distribution system. As interest in RNG grows, new hurdles are encountered, from policy or regulatory challenges, customer acceptance or gas quality, to financing project development. Hear speakers discuss their innovative approaches to successfully developing projects and making the business case for RNG.

  • Moderator: Sonal Patni, Director Engineering and Operations, AGA
  • Smithfield Foods’ Carbon Reduction and Renewable Energy Initiatives (pdf) (1.05 MB) , Kraig Westerbeek, Senior Director SFD Renewables & HPD Environmental Affairs, Smithfield Foods
  • RNG at Columbia Boulevard WWTP (pdf) (526.91 KB) , Halli Chesser, Engineer, NW Natural
  • Parallel Paths for Developing RNG Production Facilities (pdf) (1.78 MB) , Mike Fenton, Director of Sales and Project Delivery, The Landfill Group

THE MARKET FOR A THERMAL REC

Hear the case for establishing a “thermal rec” to expand markets for RNG, verify environmental claims, and enhance transparency. In addition, learn about efforts underway to use electronic tracking methods to establish a digital record of a fuel as well as efforts to establish financial trading markets to capitalize on the environmental attributes of this low carbon resource.  

  • Moderator: Tom Murray, VP, Customers & Communities, Vermont Gas
  • The Market for a Thermal REC (pdf) (2.04 MB) , Ben Gerber, Executive Director, Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, Inc.
  • Intelligent Commodities (pdf) (1.98 MB) , Peter Schriber, VP Market Development Canada, Xpansiv
  • Center for Resource Solutions (pdf) (599.4 KB) , Jillian Forte, Manager, Certification Programs, Center for Resource Solutions

EPA RNG PRESENTATION

  • RNG Resources from EPA Partnership Programs (pdf) (1.7 MB) , ​Sarah Menassian, Program Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT

Hear the latest on Power to Gas pilot projects, including current cost projections and the commercial viability of this energy storage technology in various western U.S. markets.

  • Biomethanation: A Unique and Sustainable Approach to RNG (pdf) (3.8 MB) , Kevin Harrison, Senior Engineer, NREL’s Energy Systems Integration Facility

RNG RESEARCH UPDATE

The American Gas Foundation is close to completing a technical assessment study on the potential for RNG production, related costs and associated emissions reduction potential. Initial findings will be discussed.  The Energy Futures Initiative completed a study earlier this year analyzing the role of gas in California out to 2030 and 2050.  The findings of this study, which relied heavily on the role of RNG, will be presented.

  • Philip Sheehy, Senior Director - Transportation & Energy, ICF
    This presentation is not available.

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Last updated on July 30, 2024
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