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WATCH: CalBio’s Dairy Waste to Cleaned Biogas to Zero Emission Vehicle Power

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See California Bioenergy cut the ribbon on California’s first dairy manure to fuel cell project.  The project is using Bloom Energy fuel cells to generate carbon negative power for electric vehicle charging.  This groundbreaking project cuts methane emissions, one of the most powerful climate pollutants that President Biden and scientists around the world say is the most urgent step we can take to slow global warming.  By converting dairy manure to cleaned biogas that is used in a Bloom fuel cell, the project is providing zero emission power that can be used in place of fossil fuels, cutting air pollution as well as protecting the climate.

See:  https://abc30.com/bar-20-dairy-carbon-footprint-business/11202954/

Bioenergy and the Dairy Sector

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California is the largest dairy state in the United States, providing a large share of the country’s milk and dairy products.  Unfortunately, dairies are also California’s largest source of methane emissions, a climate super pollutant.  Dairy manure can, however, be converted to carbon negative energy, eliminating methane emissions and providing negative carbon emissions instead.   According to the California Air Resources Board, investments in dairy digesters, which convert dairy waste to energy,  are the most effective and the most cost-effective of all of the state’s investments in carbon reductions.

California’s dairy cows produce enough waste to generate 550 megawatts of renewable electricity or more than 100 million gallons per year of carbon negative transportation fuels. Biomethane generated from dairy waste is the lowest carbon fuel of any in existence, more than 500 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline or diesel.  Dairy waste can also be used to generate flexible generation renewable power, which is critical to complement wind and solar power because it’s available 24/7 and can be stored and used as needed.  In addition to cutting methane emissions and producing renewable energy, converting dairy waste to energy reduces air and water pollution from dairies, cuts odors, and can provide revenue and onsite energy supplies to dairy farms.

To learn more, see Bioenergy and Dairies

Bioenergy Critical to Climate

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Bioenergy is critical to slow global warming right away and to reach carbon neutrality by mid-century.  That’s because bioenergy can reduce the most damaging climate pollutants known as Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs).  Climate scientists agree that we have less than a decade left to avert catastrophic – and largely irreversible – climate change.  The most effective tool we have – the last lever we have left – is to reduce SLCP emissions.  And bioenergy can do that more effectively than other tools because it cuts methane and black carbon emissions – two of the most damaging SLCPs – from organic waste, including landfills and dairies, agricultural waste, and forest waste or other vegetation removed to reduce wildfire risks.  Bioenergy can also provide carbon negative emissions needed to reach carbon neutrality by mid-century.  And, according to the California Air Resources Board, it provides the most cost-effective of all carbon emissions.

Read more about Bioenergy and Climate

WATCH: HZI Converting Food Waste to Power and Compost in San Luis Obispo County

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Hitachi Zosen Inova’s new bioenergy project in San Luis Obispo County is featured in this piece by KSBY.  The project is converting 72 million pounds of food and yard waste to renewable power that is sold to PG&E and compost that is used on surrounding farmland to return carbon and nutrients to the soil.

WATCH the news story here.

New Fact Sheet Highlights Job Benefits of Bioenergy

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See the new Bioenergy and Jobs Fact Sheet developed by Gladstein, Neandross & Associates for BAC and CNGVP.  The fact sheet highlights the jobs and other economic benefits that bioenergy provides from a range of organic waste sources and bioenergy end uses, including electricity generation, pipeline biogas, carbon negative vehicle fuels, and more.

California Finalizes Organic Waste Diversion Regulations

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In 2016, California enacted Senate Bill 1383 to reduce the most damaging climate pollutants, known as Short-Lived Climate Pollutants.  The bill requires a 40 percent reduction in methane emissions and a 50 percent reduction in anthropogenic black carbon by 2030.  As part of the methane reduction requirement, the legislation requires a 75 percent reduction in organic landfill waste by 2025.  That means diverting more than 15 million tons of organic waste currently going to landfills and converting it to energy and compost instead.

CalRecycle’s regulations to implement the organic waste diversion requirements were just finalized by the state’s Office of Administrative Law.  The key provisions related to bioenergy are contained in Article 12 (beginning on page 92), which sets out requirements for local jurisdictions to procure bioenergy and/or compost generated from the diverted organic waste.

See:  CalRecycle SB 1383 regulations (final)

WATCH: CalBio Opens Kern County’s First Dairy RNG Project

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CalBio hosted a virtual opening of its dairy digester cluster project in Kern County.  This is the first dairy waste to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) project in Kern County and will provide many benefits to the County and beyond, including production of carbon negative fuel that can replace diesel, improvements to air and water quality, job creation, and economic development.

Watch the video of this exciting event here.

To learn more, see CalBio’s press release:  CalBio Dairy Cluster Biogas to RNG Project

WATCH: Anaergia’s New Rialto Facility in Action

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Watch Anaergia’s new video about the importance of bioenergy for climate protection and to reduce organic waste going to landfills.