Additionally, agency members will vote on a proposed dues increase of 3%. We have not implemented a rate increase in three years, and the proposed increase will help offset inflation. 

	Attendees at the Rethink Methane Symposium

Dozens of energy developers, regulators and policy makers gathered in Sacramento on June 29 to discuss the future of bioenergy in California at the Rethink Methane symposium. 

Beginning with the opening keynote by Assembly Member Mike Gatto, the uncertain future of the low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) and cap and trade program was a recurring theme. Assembly Member Gatto, chair of the assembly utilities and commerce committee, continues to be a strong supporter of renewable gas, but described the cap and trade program as "hanging on a thread" due to ongoing discussions within the legislature. He expressed the view that biogas is unlikely to be a priority for future cap and trade funding. The closing speaker, California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols, cited the lack of a collective focus on solving air pollution and addressing climate change as the biggest barrier to the certainty and longevity of the LCFS and short lived climate pollutant strategy.

 

Ben Horenstein, Director of Wastewater at East Bay Municipal Utility District, highlighted the potential for wastewater agencies to tap into existing digester capacity to generate renewable energy.  He cited CASA's recent survey concluding that wastewater agencies have the capacity to accept at least 75% of the food waste currently being landfilled to generate energy to meet 2% of the state's overall energy demand.

On June 13, the EPA finalized its effluent guidelines for the Unconventional Oil & Gas Extraction category. The EPA established pretreatment standards for the Oil and Gas Extraction Category (40 CFR Part 435). The standards prohibit discharges of wastewater pollutants from onshore unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities to publicly owned treatment workspublicly owned treatment worksA treatment works that is owned by the state or municipality. Read more...