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Conversion Technology E-Newsletter – August 2019

EVENTS

 

Alternative Technology Advisory Subcommittee (ATAS) Meeting
August 15, 2019
Alhambra, CA
http://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/tf/meetings.cfm

California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) 43rd Annual Conference
August 11-14, 2019
Rancho Mirage, CA
http://crra.com/conference

Resource Recycling Conference
August 26-28, 2019
New Orleans, LA
http://rrconference.com/

RNG WORKS 2019 - Technical Workshop & Trade Expo
September 11-12, 2019
Nashville, TN
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rng-works-2019-technical-workshop-trade-expo-tickets-58940540744
 

Biosolids and Renewable Energy Innovation Seminar
September 17, 2019
Playa Del Rey, CA
https://events.cwea.org/event/biosolids-and-renewable-energy-innovation-seminar/

US Biogas
October 1-2, 2019
San Diego, CA
https://events.newenergyupdate.com/biogas/

WasteCon 2019
October 21-24, 2019
Phoenix, AZ
https://swana.org/Events/WASTECON.aspx

BioCycle Refor19
October 28-31, 2019
Madison, WI
http://www.biocyclerefor.com/

Southern California Waste Management Forum (SCWMF) Annual Conference & Exhibit
November 7, 2019
Pomona, CA
https://www.scwmf.org/annual-conference-exhibit


NEWS



Oneida County Starts Turning Food into Energy
Anaerobic digesters have been used for years to capture methane gas in Oneida County''''''''''''''''s sewage treatment plant. Now, they are processing food slurry - food waste mixed with water. A new depackaging machine will allow an exponentially larger amount of food waste to be taken in.  The anaerobic digesters will break down the separated organic material with acids and use the emitted methane gas to generate energy.  To read more, click here.

Sierra Energy Closes $33 Million Series A Funding Led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Sierra Energy Corporation announced that it has closed a $33 million Series A investment round led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures. The funding will help Sierra Energy further develop and commercialize its revolutionary FastOx gasification technology, which converts virtually any waste into clean, renewable energy and fuels without burning.  To read more, click here.


POLICY & LEGISLATION

Draft Program Environmental Impact Report for Statewide Adoption of Senate Bill 1383 Regulations for Short-Lived Climate Pollutants: Organic Waste Methane Emission Reduction
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has released a Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Statewide Adoption of Senate Bill 1383 Regulations for Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP): Organic Waste Methane Emission Reduction.  The public review and comment period for the Draft Program EIR is from July 30, 2019 through September 13, 2019. CalRecycle will hold a hearing in Sacramento, CA for the Draft Program EIR on August 20, 2019 at 1:00 PM.  For more information, click here.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Taps New Top Utilities Regulator
Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Marybel Batjer, currently secretary of the California Government Operations Agency, as president of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Batjer will succeed Michael Picker, who announced in May that he would retire after almost five years in the post. CPUC has a daunting job as the state grapples with goals for reducing carbon emissions and seeks to curb the threat of wildfires. Power lines have sparked catastrophic fires in recent years and the states largest electric utility, Pacific Gas & Electric Corp., has filed for bankruptcy in the face of billions of dollars in claims for damage. To read more, click here.

Electricity Excluded from EPAs Proposed 2020 RFS Fuel Targets
The U.S. EPA recently released the 2020 fuel targets and excluded electricity from the Renewable Fuel Standard known as the renewable volume obligation. The proposed targets set the minimum amount of renewable fuels that must be supplied to the market in calendar year 2020.  By failing to include electricity in the Renewable Fuel Standard, the EPA continues to disregard biogas producers who make renewable electricity, said Patrick Serfass, executive director of American Biogas Council.  To read more, click here.

EERE Gives $43.6M For Phase II Innovation Projects
American small businesses received a near-$44 million boost from the Energy Departments Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Small Business Innovation Research program. Selected small businesses are receiving Phase II Release 2 grants that demonstrate commercial feasibility for innovations during the second phase of their research.  Mainstream Engineering Corporation of Rockledge, FL received a grant to developing a hydrothermal liquefaction process to convert food wastes to renewable diesel and jet fuels. To read more, click here.

Federal Bill Could Create Biogas Tax Credits, Bolster Organics Infrastructure
Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wisc., and Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., have reintroduced the Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act (H.R. 3744) to create a new 30% investment tax credit for qualifying biogas and nutrient recovery projects.  Final language has not been published, but a review by the American Biogas Council confirms standalone anaerobic digesters would be included.  H.R. 3744 has been referred to both the House Ways and Means Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. It currently has bipartisan sponsorship by eight congressional members from six states.  To read more, click here.

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