Enviros target clean fuel programs, plus RNG news from Republic, Sagepoint and more – Waste Dive

Report on Biogas Policy and Industry Developments in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

Legal and Regulatory Scrutiny of Biogas Incentives

Recent actions in California and New Mexico highlight a growing conflict between policies designed to promote clean energy and concerns over their alignment with broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Environmental groups are challenging state-level clean fuel standards, arguing that incentive structures for farm-based biogas may undermine progress on environmental justice, community health, and responsible production.

California: Lawsuit Challenges Low Carbon Fuel Standard

A coalition of environmental organizations, led by Food & Water Watch, has initiated legal action against the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The lawsuit contests the legality of recent amendments to the state’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).

• Core Allegation: The lawsuit claims that the LCFS amendments unlawfully expand support for biogas derived from factory farms, particularly through a mechanism known as “avoided methane crediting.”
• Conflict with SDGs:
  • Opponents argue that while the policy aims to advance SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), it does so by entrenching agricultural practices that negatively impact SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) in areas surrounding these farms.
  • The challenge questions whether the program constitutes a “false climate solution,” suggesting it fails to align with the principles of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
  • The legal action itself represents an appeal for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), seeking to hold regulatory bodies accountable to state climate laws and equity principles.
• Participating Groups: The lawsuit is supported by Central Valley Defenders of Clean Air and Water, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and the Center for Food Safety.

New Mexico: Advocacy Against Adopting California’s Model

In New Mexico, advocacy groups are actively pressuring the state’s Environmental Improvement Board to diverge from the California model as it formulates its own Clean Transportation Fuel Standards (CTFS).

• Primary Goal: To prevent the inclusion of “avoided methane crediting” and other lucrative incentives for factory farm biogas in the state’s final regulations.
• Alignment with SDGs:
  • Advocates, including the New Mexico chapter of Food & Water Watch, contend that adopting such policies would import a system that is detrimental to environmental justice and is already subject to legal challenges, thereby failing the objectives of SDG 16.
  • The campaign urges regulators to develop a clean fuels program that holistically supports climate goals without compromising community health (SDG 3) or clean water (SDG 6).
• Timeline: The Environmental Improvement Board is expected to continue debating and potentially finalize the standards in late September.

Industry Progress in Waste-to-Energy Conversion

Despite policy challenges, the biogas sector continues to advance projects that contribute to circular economy principles and climate mitigation. These developments demonstrate progress toward SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by converting waste streams into valuable energy resources.

Republic Services Brings Sixth RNG Facility Online

1. Project: A new landfill-gas-to-Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility was launched at the Lee County Landfill in Dixon, Illinois, in partnership with Ameresco.
2. Contribution to SDGs:
   • The facility directly supports SDG 7 by producing an estimated 1.2 million MMBTUs of RNG annually.
   • It advances SDG 13 (Climate Action) by capturing landfill gas, contributing to Republic Services’ goal of beneficially reusing 76.9 billion standard cubic feet of landfill gas as reported in 2024.
   • This project enhances waste management infrastructure, a key component of SDG 11.

Sagepoint Energy Adds Landfill Facility for RNG Conversion

1. Project: Sagepoint Energy acquired the Peoples LFG facility in Birch Run, Michigan, with plans to convert the plant from electricity generation to RNG production.
2. Contribution to SDGs:
   • The conversion is a strategic move to increase the production of RNG, directly supporting SDG 7.
   • This acquisition is part of the company’s broader strategy to expand its portfolio of landfill gas projects, promoting SDG 12 by creating value from waste.
   • Construction is slated to begin in 2025, with operations commencing the following year.

Waga Energy Refinances Canadian Facilities for Expansion

1. Project: The company secured a C$25 million loan to refinance three RNG facilities in Quebec.
2. Contribution to SDGs:
   • The refinancing strengthens Waga Energy’s financial capacity to develop new RNG facilities in Canada and internationally, scaling up its impact on SDG 7 and SDG 13.
   • This move indicates strong investor confidence in RNG as a sustainable energy source, which is crucial for financing the transition envisioned in the SDGs.

BTS Bioenergy Expands Maryland Organics Processing

1. Project: BTS Bioenergy opened the Maryland Organics Recovery Center (MORC), a new satellite facility for feedstock consolidation.
2. Contribution to SDGs:
   • The facility enhances the infrastructure for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by improving the efficiency of diverting food waste from landfills.
   • It separates and prepares organic material for processing at the company’s main anaerobic digestion facility, turning food waste into a resource for clean energy production (SDG 7).
   • This expansion supports the company’s mission to advance landfill diversion and improve the operational efficiency of its revenue-generating facilities.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • The article’s central theme is the production of biogas and renewable natural gas (RNG) from waste sources like farm manure and landfills. This directly relates to increasing the share of renewable and clean energy. The text discusses “clean fuels credits,” “renewable natural gas,” and the development of “landfill-gas-to-RNG” facilities.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • The article addresses sustainable waste management, a key component of sustainable cities. It describes projects that convert landfill gas to energy and process urban food waste, such as the “landfill-gas-to-electricity facility in Birch Run, Michigan” and the “Maryland Organics Recovery Center” that takes “palletized food waste.” These actions reduce the environmental impact of cities by managing waste more effectively.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • The article highlights the principle of a circular economy by discussing the conversion of waste into valuable resources. The process of turning manure, landfill gas, and food waste into energy is a form of reuse and waste reduction. The goal of “landfill diversion” mentioned in the context of the Maryland facility directly supports the substantial reduction of waste generation.
• SDG 13: Climate Action
  • The entire context of the article is framed around climate change mitigation. Policies like California’s “Low Carbon Fuel Standard” and the debate over “avoided methane crediting” are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The article explicitly mentions the goal is to “honestly and equitably address the climate crisis” and focuses on metrics like “carbon intensity scores” and “emissions reduction activities.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The article details the expansion of RNG production through new facilities. For example, it mentions Republic Services opening its “sixth such facility to open in 2025” and Sagepoint Energy acquiring a plant to convert it into an “RNG-producing facility.” These actions directly contribute to increasing the share of renewable energy.
2. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • The development of infrastructure to manage waste, as described in the article, aligns with this target. The “Maryland Organics Recovery Center” is built to “assist with feedstock consolidation” from food waste, and multiple projects focus on converting landfill gas, thereby improving municipal waste management and reducing its environmental footprint.
3. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
   • The article provides examples of waste being reused and recovered. The BTS Bioenergy facility’s mission of “landfill diversion” and its processing of “palletized food waste” are direct actions toward reducing final waste generation by turning organic waste into a new product (biogas).
4. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • The article focuses heavily on state-level climate policies. The lawsuit against the “California Air Resources Board” regarding its “Low Carbon Fuel Standard” and the ongoing shaping of “New Mexico’s Clean Transportation Fuel Standards” are clear examples of integrating climate change measures into governmental strategies and regulations.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 7.2:
   • Production Volume of Renewable Energy: The article provides specific production figures that can serve as indicators. For instance, the Lee County Landfill facility is expected to “produce 1.2 million mmBtus of RNG annually.”
   • Volume of Processed Gas: Republic Services is reported to have “beneficially reused 76.9 billion standard cubic feet of landfill gas in 2024.”
2. For Target 11.6 & 12.5:
   • Number of Waste-to-Energy Facilities: The article tracks the development of new facilities, such as “Republic Services brings sixth facility online” and “Sagepoint Energy adds landfill facility,” which indicates an expansion of controlled waste management infrastructure.
   • Waste Diversion Initiatives: The establishment of the “Maryland Organics Recovery Center” to “serve the food distribution sector while advancing our mission of landfill diversion” is a qualitative indicator of progress in reducing waste sent to landfills.
3. For Target 13.2:
   • Economic Instruments for Climate Policy: The article mentions specific financial metrics used within climate policies. These include the “Price per metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent” in Oregon’s program ($110.00) and California’s LCFS ($59.19). These prices are direct indicators of the implementation and market activity of these climate policies.
   • Policy-Specific Metrics: The use of “carbon intensity scores” is a key performance indicator within the Low Carbon Fuel Standard to evaluate the climate impact of different fuels.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wastedive.com