Whether in boardroom earnings calls, keynote speeches or media editorials, these days I see the same question repeated everywhere: Is the U.S. heading in the right direction on climate policy?&nbsp;Answers to that question vary, but one thing is certain: Concern over how communities, corporate leaders and elected officials are handling climate change has never been more apparent. Most U.S. adults (54%) describe climate change as a “major threat” to our country’s well-being, up from around 44% a decade ago, according to a 2023 survey from Pew Research Center. Some 61% of Americans say that climate change is directly affecting their community.The Biden administration has addressed these concerns by injecting funds into the U.S. decarbonization effort via Build Back Better, the Inflation Reduction Act and other policies. Those federal programs have earmarked hundreds of billions of dollars to the development of wind, solar and low-carbon fuels, plus incentives that will likely catalyze new clean energy jobs. So, problem solved, right? Not exactly.Setbacks&nbsp; Unfortunately, 2023 offered some gut punches to U.S. decarbonization efforts, headlined by setbacks in the U.S. offshore wind industry. In November, European developer Orsted scrapped blueprints for two large offshore wind projects called Ocean Wind 1 and 2 in New Jersey, taking billions of dollars in write-downs rather than tough out the lumps it was enduring in the Garden State. The news drew widespread attention, much of it negative. The Washington Post wrote that the demise of Ocean Wind could “imperil Biden’s energy agenda.” Other observers simply wondered, how could this failure happen in a state with such grand offshore wind ambitions?While Orsted blamed supply chain pressures and financing challenges, it seems local NIMBYism also contributed to the knockout; a commissioner for the county housing Ocean Wind reportedly proclaimed a “very happy day” when the company announced it would abandon the projects.Diversified Portfolios&nbsp; Unlike that New Jersey commissioner, I take no joy in the setbacks our country endures in siting, permitting and executing renewable energy projects. I would, however, encourage states like New Jersey to prepare for similar challenges by adopting a more inclusive energy transition approach: wind, solar and electrification leading the way, but with support from underutilized forms of renewable energy that can bridge the gap in the near- and medium-term.Renewable natural gas (RNG) represents one such technology. Known as biomethane internationally, this low-carbon fuel derived from organic waste has earned tremendous support in Europe, where lawmakers are targeting twelvefold supply growth by 2030. But here in North America, RNG remains sorely underutilized.RNG Coalition has identified 43,000 waste sites that could be fitted with methane-trapping RNG infrastructure in the coming decades. Currently, however, North America has just over 300 operational RNG facilities at farms, landfills and other sites, a sharp increase from historic levels, but still far behind our ultimate potential. Considering that methane emissions are 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year span, we have our work cut out for us.It is high time we recognize that our near future cannot be wind and solar alone, as even those widely supported projects are likely to face local resistance and operational challenges, as evidenced by Ocean Wind. Nor can our future be electrons versus molecules, NIMBYs versus industry, or left versus right. A truly sustainable future will require a diverse portfolio of sustainable solutions.Call to Courage&nbsp; This vision will demand courage at all levels of U.S. government, with the 2024 election year underscoring the urgency of the task before us. At the federal level, it’s vital that Washington responsibly implements numerous clean energy incentives originally passed under the IRA, including investment tax credits for RNG and biogas energy properties. At the state level, we need more programs that restrict fossil fuels and encourage renewable alternatives. Michigan has a proposed clean fuel standard that would make it the first state east of the Mississippi to pass a program like California’s historically successful Low Carbon Fuel Standard. It is imperative that Michigan lawmakers push that proposal across in the upcoming legislative session.Ultimately, placing our country in the “right direction” on climate policy means moving decisively to remove ourselves from the yoke of endless fossil fuel dependency. At the same time, we cannot rest our hopes on just a few chosen technologies as we pursue ambitious but hard-to-achieve goals. Viable energy transition policies must confront and navigate this central tension, without expectation of pleasing all parties.Let us hope our federal and state lawmakers embrace this common-sense vision of the energy transition in 2024. And may the new year grant all of us the resolve to march forward in the face of those who would be happy to burden the most important challenge of our era on the backs of a few, select solutions. Author: Dylan Chase&nbsp; Public Relations Manager, RNG Coalition&nbsp; dylan@rngcoalition.com&nbsp;

2024-01-16 - Climate Challenge Calls for Diverse Solutions   (Biomass Magazine)

thumbnail_Dylan-Chase.jpg

Dylan-Chase.jpg

Placing our country in the right direction on climate policy means moving decisively to remove ourselves from the yoke of endless fossil fuel dependency, embracing a diverse portfolio of sustainable solutions.

Climate Challenge Calls for Diverse Solutions

Upcoming Events

2024 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo

Biodiesel Summit: Sustainable Aviation Fuel & Renewable Diesel

Carbon Capture & Storage Summit

North American SAF Conference & Expo

RNG Conference