Residential Business About Us Renewable natural gas is the future. We're ready. Home About Us Renewable Natural Gas While we work to fuel the Pacific Northwest with natural gas every day, we also innovate new, sustainable ways to meet the demands of the region's growing population. Renewable natural gas is produced from organic materials like food, agricultural and forestry waste, landfills and wastewater. With recent advancements in technology, the gases from those waste streams can now be cleaned up and added into our pipeline network to serve homes and businesses. This turns the problem of waste into a powerful climate solution using our pipeline network already in place. About renewable natural gas Renewable natural gas potential Renewable natural gas future Renewable natural gas benefits Where does renewable natural gas come from? Renewable natural gas is a zero-carbon resource produced from local, organic materials like food, agricultural and forestry waste, wastewater or landfills. As these materials decompose, they produce methane. That methane can be captured, conditioned to pipeline quality and delivered in the existing pipeline system to homes and businesses where it can be used in existing appliances and equipment. It can also be used in natural gas vehicles. This process closes the loop on waste and provides a renewable energy option for the natural gas system, in the same way that wind and solar are used to generate renewable electricity. Renewable Natural Gas Projects NW Natural is now investing in renewable natural gas projects to acquire RNG for our customers. With our first two agreements, we already have options to purchase or develop RNG totaling about 2% of NW Natural’s annual sales volume in Oregon, enough to heat about 36,000 homes. December 2020: NW Natural formed an innovative renewable natural gas partnership with Tyson Foods and BioCarbN to convert waste to renewables at Tyson facilities. This RNG supply will be dedicated to NW Natural’s Oregon customers. Read more about this groundbreaking project. August 2021: NW Natural announced an agreement with Element Markets to purchase RNG for Oregon customers as part of the RNG program instituted under Oregon Senate Bill 98. NW Natural will purchase the environmental attributes, or Renewable Thermal Certificates (RTCs), generated by a new RNG facility at a wastewater treatment plant in New York City and a Wisconsin-based mixed waste anaerobic digester facility. Renewable Thermal Credits are verified and certified by the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System (M-RETS). The M-RETS Renewable Thermal Tracking System issues one Renewable Thermal Certificate (RTC) for every dekatherm of renewable natural gas. A dekatherm (10 therms) is approximately 1 million British Thermal Units (MMBtu). Below are some of the RNG projects being developed in our service territory. Collectively, these projects are designed to provide immediate and impactful emissions and air quality benefits. City of Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services’ Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant. Learn more about Portland's single biggest climate action infrastructure project. Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission facility in Lane County. Learn more about this exciting project. Shell New Energies Junction City biomethane facility. Download the facts about renewable natural gas See how much RNG is out there 0:30 Data provided by The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas . Download video transcript What about renewable hydrogen? There is also the ability to create renewable hydrogen made through the power to gas process from wind and solar energy that would otherwise go to waste — and distribute that into the pipeline network. In fact, a team of Pacific Northwest public and private organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the development of what would be one of the largest renewable hydrogen production facilities in North America. Read about the renewable hydrogen production facility Download the facts about renewable hydrogen How is renewable hydrogen made? Oregon rulemaking for SB 98 wraps up, allowing NW Natural to deliver renewable energy to customers Rulemaking for Senate Bill 98 (SB 98) is now complete, giving NW Natural a clear path to acquire renewable natural gas on behalf of customers, and forging the way for this newest renewable resource to be an increasing part of the state's energy supply. NW Natural worked collaboratively with legislators and renewable natural gas stakeholders to create SB 98, a groundbreaking bill that was signed into law by Oregon Governor Kate Brown in 2019. Since then, the Public Utility Commission of Oregon (OPUC), consumer groups and natural gas utilities have been working through a rulemaking process, so natural gas utilities can begin procuring renewable natural gas under the legislation. Renewable natural gas is a zero-carbon resource produced from local organic materials such as food, agricultural and forestry waste, wastewater or landfills. The gas can be cleaned and added into the existing natural gas system, where it is fully interchangeable with conventional natural gas. We're excited to use this landmark law, one of the first of its kind in the nation, to acquire a renewable product for our customers and bring our region one step closer to a clean energy future. Another important benefit is that local communities now have a potential revenue source to turn their waste into energy. David H. Anderson NW Natural President and CEO More information about SB 98 SB 98 Details Happening now: NW Natural renewable energy programs Replacing diesel with natural gas in Portland The Less We Can campaign: inspiring action toward a low-carbon, renewable-energy future Become a Renewable Natural Gas or Hydrogen Supplier We are currently seeking new supply opportunities We are continuously looking to partner with organizations to increase our supplies of renewable gas. We are interested in the sale of a total or partial interest in existing or development gas projects or for the sale of pipeline-quality RNG or hydrogen. We seek RNG resources and/or associated environmental attributes from around the country and from a wide variety of feedstocks and sources. To start the conversation, contact us at renewables@nwnatural.com. Discover More Ways to save every month. Read tips that can help you improve energy efficiency and lower your monthly bill. Learn more Rebates and offers. Save energy and get as much as $2,000 back on high-efficiency natural gas appliances. Learn more Welcome to a natural gas home. Find out how natural gas adds warmth, convenience and savings to your home. Details Can I get gas? Check on gas availability for your conversion or new construction project. Check Now Find a contractor Use our tool to find a NW Natural preferred contractor. Search Register your account online. View and pay bills, see gas use, and compare use over time. Register Builders / HVAC Investors Suppliers Careers Twitter Facebook YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Terms and Conditions Online Privacy CA Privacy Policy Bill Inserts En Español Contact Us © 2021 NW Natural. All Rights Reserved.