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California Gov. Administration Working to Remove Biogas Regulatory Barriers

Date: January 30, 2012

Source: News Room

California officials with Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) administration appear to be working to remove regulatory barriers to biogas production and use in the state's pipelines in an effort to allow the gas to receive credit under California's climate change and renewable power programs. This would help California reach its aggressive 2020 greenhouse gas (GHG)-reduction mandates and its 33 percent renewable portfolio standard (RPS). California law currently prohibits biogas produced at state landfills from being injected into the state's natural gas pipeline system based on utility concerns that it may contaminate the California's natural gas supply because it contains additional "contaminates." Biogas, the result of anaerobic digestion, typically contains 50-80 percent methane, 20-50 percent carbon dioxide, and traces of gases such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide and nitrogen.

The legal prohibition prevents the use of biogas in California's power plants, even though biogas could provide utilities with substantial credit to meet the state RPS, say critics of statute. Mike Florio, a California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) member is among Brown administration officials involved in a bioenergy task force working to resolve the complicated issues associated with biogas. He said during a Jan. 18 Senate Rules Committee hearing that they would take a number of actions this year. "There is a long list and we think we will see very substantial progress in the year to come," he said. "There may need to be some legislative changes . . . and if so, that will be put before you by the administration. This has been a high priority item in the governor's office and at the commission." Florio described biogas as having double benefits, because methane released into the atmosphere is a very potent GHG, "and if we can turn that into fuel we're benefiting ourselves in two ways."

See also: "California Utilities Worry Biogas Won't Qualify as Renewable," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20111101D.htm).

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