Renewable Natural Gas Project Development & Regulatory Considerations
As the country progresses toward low or zero carbon in the energy and transportation markets, demand for alternatives to traditional fossil fuels are providing opportunities to divert methane from farms, landfills, wastewater treatment plants, and food waste operations into Renewable Natural Gas. Incentives driven by the federal Renewable Fuels Standard and state-specific low carbon fuel standards are being seen across much of the country, including Michigan. RNG plants convert landfill gas and biogas from anaerobic digester which utilize organic wastes as feedstock (e.g. animal manure, biosolids, food waste), into a source of clean and reliable energy to be used as a transportation fuel or to heat and power homes and businesses.
The presentation steps through the project development and regulatory and permitting pathway for RNG, including project identification and feasibility; air permit to install approval; engineering, design, and commissioning; as well as site-specific considerations including Environmental Justice, nuisance odor mitigation, safety, and risk management.
About our speakers:
Dana Kirk, PhD, P.E. is an Associate Professor in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University and the Director of Operations & Innovation at SKS Development. SKS Development designs, builds, and operates waste-to-energy facilities that generate Renewable Natural Gas, delivering sustainable waste processing solutions for project partners. In 2018, Dana was appointed to Michigan EGLE’s Environmental Permit Review Commission to advise EGLE Director on disputes related to permits and permit applications. Dana established MSU’s Anaerobic Digester Research and Education Center (ADREC), a collaborative effort between the University and a private foundation to provide a continuum of research, professional development and outreach support for waste-to-energy systems. He has overseen design, construction and operation of numerous commercial scale digesters, RNG facilities, and demonstration and pilot scale systems. The MSU South Campus Digester was recognized by the American Biogas Council as the 2014 Institutional Project of the Year.
Rhiana Dornbos, P.E., is a Vice President and Air Quality Group Lead at NTH Consultants, Ltd., an Employee-Owned infrastructure and environmental engineering company based in Michigan. Ms. Dornbos has 11 years of experience in Clean Air Act permitting and compliance, and serves as Project Manager for RNG projects across the country. Her knowledge of federal and state environmental regulations, and understanding of industrial processes, provides for sustainable solutions and environmental excellence for a wide range of clients and projects. Ms. Dornbos holds a B.S. in Engineering with a Civil/Environmental Concentration from Calvin University and currently serves as Secretary on the Board of the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) West Michigan Chapter.
2022 Corporate Sponsors:
OVERALL EVENT SPONSOR: Taplin Group
TECHNOLOGY SPONSOR: SET Environmental, Inc.
LUNCH SPONSOR: Fishbeck
BEVERAGE CART SPONSOR: RWDI
HOLE SPONSORS: Envirologic Technologies, Inc; Fleis & VandenBrink Engineering; GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
PRIZE SPONSORS: Amway (Amway product bundle); Envirologic Technologies, Inc. (ceramic growler); Fishbeck (golf related items); MillerKnoll (Aeron chair); Pace ($50 giftcard); SET Environmental, Inc. (Four 18-hole passes to Thornapple Pointe Golf Course in Grand Rapids)
Golfers will win prizes for the longest drive, longest putt and closest to the pin. The winning foursome will also receive a prize.
There is still time to sponsor a hole and/or provide golf prizes. Benefits include recognition on pre-event promotions, name and/or logo featured in a PowerPoint screen before and after the meeting, sponsor sign posted on the golf course for hole sponsorship, name recognition during the prize portion of the golf outing for prize sponsorship. Sign up on Eventbrite or contact Jill, jkwmawma@gmail.com, to participate.