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

Environmental groups are opening up new forms of opposition to clean fuels credits that reward farm biogas in two states. If successful, they could reduce the strong incentive farm owners receive to convert biogas from manure into renewable natural gas.

In California, a coalition of environmental groups led by Food & Water Watch sued the California Air Resources Board on July 25. They allege that the Low Carbon Fuel Standard amendments that went into effect on July 1 unlawfully expand support for farm biogas and lock in negative impacts to communities near factory farms. The groups specifically hope to reverse avoided methane crediting, a policy that gives factory farm biogas particularly strong carbon intensity scores that boosts the price they charge for the credits they generate.

“This new suit aims to bring CARB back in line with its obligations to honestly and equitably address the climate crisis under California’s climate laws,” Tyler Lobdell, staff attorney at Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. “CARB doubling down on false climate solutions like factory farm biogas is bad for the climate and bad for Californians, and now we’re arguing it’s illegal as well.”

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