Senate Introduces Bi-Partisan Bill to Encourage Use of Ultra-Low Carbon RNG in Transportation

U.S. Senate Bill S. 4389, a bipartisan effort introduced on May 22, 2024, by Senators Mark Warner (D) from Virginia and Thom Tillis (R) from North Carolina, aims to provide a $1 per gallon tax credit for the use of renewable natural gas (RNG) as a transportation fuel. 

A companion bill was introduced in the U.S. House earlier in the session by Representatives Linda Sanchez (D) from California and Brian Fitzpatrick (R) from Pennsylvania. 

Andrew Littlefair, CEO and president of Clean Energy Fuels Corp., a provider of RNG, issued a statement in support of the "Renewable Natural Gas Incentive Act of 2024":

"At a time when other alternative fuels are having difficulty finding their footing in the heavy-duty vehicle market, RNG is being accepted more and more by fleets that want to reduce their carbon emissions. A robust RNG fueling infrastructure has been built nationwide, and more stations are being added regularly. And a new larger engine that operates on RNG manufactured by Cummins is hitting the market this summer, so the time is ripe for Congress to boost the use of this remarkable fuel," the statement said.

RNG is derived from capturing the biogenic methane produced by decomposing organic waste from dairies, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants. It can reduce climate-harming greenhouse gas emissions by over 300% depending on the RNG source, making it a negative carbon-intensity fuel. 

"No other fuel eliminates greenhouse gas emissions at the source and on the road the way RNG does, giving it the best carbon-intensity score of any fuel available in significant quantities. On top of that, the production of it is giving an economic lift to the country's agricultural industry, particularly dairies, and creating jobs in rural areas," the statement continued. 

Every day, thousands of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, operated by transit agencies in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Dallas, waste companies such as WM and Republic Services, and logistics companies like UPS, Amazon, Saia Trucking Services, and Saddle Creek Logistics Services, run on RNG, showcasing its practicality and wide-ranging applications. 

"We applaud the bi-partisan way the RNG Incentive Act of 2024 began with strong authors in the Senate and the House and encourage continued support as it works its way through to become the law of the land," the statement concluded.

Transportation Project Applauds RNG Motor Fuel Tax Credit

The Renewable Natural Gas Incentive Act, introduced by Senators Thom Tillis and Mark Warner, has received commendation from The Transport Project (TTP) for its bipartisan effort to provide a $1 per gallon tax credit for motor vehicles that use RNG.

This initiative is a significant step towards promoting cleaner and more efficient transportation across America.

The Transport Project President Daniel Gage highlighted the benefits of transitioning to RNG-fueled vehicles, emphasizing how commercial fleets increasingly realize the immediate sustainability benefits of RNG as a transportation fuel.

“Transitioning to RNG-fueled vehicles can save money and reduce emissions, and deploys new, affordable, cleaner, and compliant technology without delay and without compromising business operations,” said The Transport Project President Daniel Gage. “More and more commercial fleets are discovering how allocating RNG as transportation fuel can help achieve more sustainable results immediately. We are fortunate to have bipartisan, bicameral support in decarbonizing commercial trucking through RNG and getting this credit passed into law in this Congress.”

The legislation's bipartisan approach and industry support demonstrate the potential of RNG in addressing climate change and promoting more sustainable and cleaner transportation options for the future.