Posts by Julia Levin
WATCH: Bloom Energy Converts Dairy Biogas into Renewable Power
Bloom Energy is partnering with CalBio to convert dairy manure to carbon negative power. This video highlights the Bloom/CalBio project at Bar20 Dairy Farms in Kerman, California, a third generation, family owned farm that was established in the 1950s. Bar20 has set a goal of using 100 percent renewable power to protect air quality in…
Read MoreU. S. Forest Service Funds BAC Member Projects
The U.S. Forest Service has awarded funding to three BAC members – Arbor Energy, Mote, and West Biofuels – for projects that will convert forest waste to bioenergy. All three projects will use advanced technology to convert forest waste to electricity and fuels, helping to beneficially re-use forest biomass that must be removed to reduce…
Read MoreCalifornia Air Resources Board Adopts Advanced Clean Fleet Regulation
In April, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted one of the most aggressive vehicle regulations in the country. The Advanced Clean Fleet or ACF regulation is focused on converting medium and heavy-duty vehicles to zero emission – battery or fuel cell electric – for most vehicles over 8500 pounds. Thanks to advocacy by the…
Read MoreRichmond City Council Approves Raven SR Organic Waste to Hydrogen Project
On May 16, the Richmond City Council voted unanimously to approve development of Raven SR‘s project to convert diverted organic waste and landfill gas to carbon negative hydrogen that will be used to fuel heavy duty trucks in place of diesel. The project, which will be online in 2024, will provide enormous benefits for air…
Read MoreClimate Change and Bioenergy
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,…
Read MoreTransportation Fuels
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…
Read MorePipeline Biogas
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…
Read MoreElectricity
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…
Read MoreAir 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…
Read MoreWATCH: Mainspring Energy Converts Landfill Gas to electricity
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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