Climate Change and Bioenergy

A jungle covered with fire in trees

Bioenergy generation from organic waste is critical to meet California’s climate goals – both the near term goal of reducing methane and black carbon, known as Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) and the longer term goal of reaching carbon neutrality.  That’s because organic waste causes more than 80 percent of California’s methane and black carbon emissions,…

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Transportation Fuels

A place full of so many parked buses

Bioenergy has an important role to play in the transportation sector by providing the only carbon negative fuels in existence. Organic waste can be converted to biomethane, renewable hydrogen, or renewable electricity to fuel vehicles on or off the road and to provide Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). Biomethane can be used to fuel heavy duty…

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Pipeline Biogas

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California will continue to need gas for energy reliability, heavy duty transportation, and hard to electrify end uses such as manufacturing, industry, cement, glass, and more. That gas does not have to come from fossil fuels, though. California can replace fossil fuel gas with renewable gases like biomethane and hydrogen generated from organic waste and…

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Electricity

Construction work going at a place with machines

Bioenergy from organic waste can provide renewable power that is available when needed, also known as “firm” power. California will need thousands of megawatts of firm, renewable power to fill in when solar and wind power are not available and for periods when batteries are not sufficient. Bioenergy is also the only form of power…

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Air Board Proposes New Pipeline Biogas Standards

AB 1900, legislation to promote the instate development and use of biogas, requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to propose pipeline biogas standards to protect public health. The California Public Utilities Commission must defer to the agencies in adopting those standards and must adopt additional standards…

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WATCH: Mainspring Energy Converts Landfill Gas to electricity

Mainspring logo with no background

WATCH local news coverage of Mainspring Energy’s linear generator, which is converting landfill methane to renewable electricity in Yolo County. Using its non-combustion technology, Mainspring can reduce methane emissions and provide renewable electricity. According to climate scientists around the world, cutting methane and other Short-Lived Climate Pollutants is the most urgent step we can take…

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Department of Conservation Awards Forest Biomass to Advanced Biofuels Projects

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The California Department of Conservation ((DOC) has approved grants to five BAC members to conduct the environmental planning and permitting for projects to convert forest waste to carbon negative biofuels including hydrogen and bio-oil. The projects will also include either biochar production or carbon capture and storage (CCS) to ensure that the fuels are carbon…

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Raven SR Announces Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Projects

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Raven SR has entered into two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU’s) to provide Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to Japan Airlines and All Nipon Airlines. Raven will generate the fuel from organic waste using green waste and other organic waste that is diverted from landfills, as well as landfill biogas emitted from decomposing waste. Raven will provide…

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Air Board Adopts 2022 Climate Change Scoping Plan

The California Air Resources Board adopted California’s 2022 Climate Change Scoping Plan in December. The Scoping Plan is California’s blueprint for achieving its climate goals. The 2022 Plan includes several new areas of focus, including a strategy to achieve carbon neutrality, how to reduce carbon emissions and increase sequestration on natural and working lands, carbon…

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