The California Public Utilities Commission has commenced a new rulemaking to implement Assembly Bill (AB) 1900, on the use of common carrier gas pipelines for biomethane. In the rulemaking, the CPUC will develop standards and requirements for biomethane injected into pipelines, as well as pipeline access rules to ensure non-discriminatory open access to the system. Under current tariffs, most gas utilities specifically decline to accept or transport gas from landfills. Under AB 1900, the CPUC is also directed to adopt policies and programs that promote the in-state production and distribution of biomethane. This aspect of AB 1900 is being handled in the CPUC’s existing proceeding on implementation of the state 33% RPS. The California Energy Commission is charged with implementing other provisions of AB 1900, including identifying impediments that limit procurement of biomethane in California and offering solutions to those impediments.
In January 2013, the CPUC updated the scope of its 33% RPS proceeding to also implement Senate Bill (SB) 1122, requiring investor-owned utilities to procure at least 250 MW of electrical generation from new bioenergy projects. A third bioenergy bill, AB 2196, allowing electrical generating facilities using landfill or digester gas to qualify for the California RPS, will largely be implemented by the Energy Commission. This suite of legislation from the 2011-2012 California Legislative Session offers new opportunities in California for the bioenergy and biogas industries, after the setback suffered in March 2012 when the Energy Commission suspended the RPS-eligibility of biogas.