Responding to a legislative mandate, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on Wednesday launched a rulemaking to examine how to integrate biomethane into the state’s extensive natural gas pipeline grid.

A state law passed last year (AB 1900) calls for the CPUC to adopt safety standards for injecting biomethane into common carrier gas intrastate pipelines and to adopt rules allowing pipeline access by biogas producers.

Calling it “cow power” because a large source of biogas is the manure-based methane from dairy farms, Commissioner Mike Florio said the energy resource has 20 times less of a carbon footprint than natural gas but officials have “had trouble making it a reality.”

In a unanimous (5-0) vote to launch the rulemaking, Commissioner Catherine Sandoval predicted that the new push “could open a very important resource to California” as the state deemphasizes gas for power generation to meet its renewable energy goals (see related story).

“California has long been interested in the responsible use of organic waste to promote environmental and economic goals, including but not limited to clean air, effective waste management, job development, energy independence, and resource diversity,” the CPUC order said.

The state has had a biogas action plan and an interagency working group looking at how to deal with some of the contaminants associated with biogas, particularly landfill gas, which may contain vinyl chloride. AB 1900 calls for significant work by state agencies dealing with health, air pollution and hazardous waste.

Under the new law, which amends rules covering health/safety and public resources, the CPUC is tasked with developing biomethane standards by the end of this year. It also has to promote more biomethane use by the energy utilities it regulates and to adopt pipeline access rules.

Health hazard and air pollution agencies are expected to complete some work on the rules in May, at which time the CPUC would begin drafting the standards, said CPUC President Michael Peevey. The CPUC is already stepping up its promotional efforts, he said.

The order “provides an official forum to consider evidence and argument on the issues. It will, among other things, result in orders that direct each [natural gas company] to implement just and reasonable standards and requirements, provide pipeline open access and be subject to enforcement protocols.”

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