Portland Approves Renewable Natural Gas Project to Fuel City Vehicles

The City of Portland, Oregon has authorized the construction of a renewable natural gas (RNG) production facility at the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant in north Portland that will recover and clean biogas to pipeline quality for injection into NW Natural’s pipeline. The City also approved a $12 million natural gas fueling station that will fuel its fleet of natural gas vehicles.

The City says this is its single largest climate action project, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 21,000 tons annually, generating upwards of $3 million in revenue a year, and replacing 1.34 million gallons of dirty diesel fuel with clean RNG—enough to run 154 garbage trucks for a year.

“Through partnerships like these, our pipeline system can help communities close the loop on waste, which reduces air pollution and carbon emissions, and supports diverse and innovative energy opportunities,” said David H. Anderson, NW Natural president and CEO. “We look forward to this being the first of many renewable natural gas projects that move us toward a low-carbon future.”

NW Natural will build and maintain the fueling station, as well as the pipeline monitoring and interconnection. The City and NW Natural believe this is an important first step toward promoting RNG in Oregon.

“RNG is the lowest-carbon fuel option for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles,” said Bill Edmonds, director of environmental policy and sustainability at NW Natural. “No other technology on the market today provides that combination of environmental benefits all at once.”

The City of Portland will be on Schedule H, a tariff approved by the Public Utility Commission of Oregon which allows the utility to install and maintain compression facilities for customers who need on-site fueling. The fueling station is projected to be online as early as the end of 2017.