A California bill (SB 489) to increase access to various clean energy sources, including biogas was passed out of the lower house Assembly’s Appropriations Committee earlier in August on a 12-4 vote with a “do-pass” recommendation. The measure’s author, Sen. Lois Wolk said the bill is designed to remove current barriers in the way of small-scale renewable energy development, and specifically gives farmers and food processors in the agricultural sector the ability to cut their businesses’ energy bills through more combined heat-power systems. SB 489 would enable all eligible renewable energy technologies — including biomass and biogas — to use the state’s net energy metering program that allows customers to offset some of their power usage with on-site generation. This is aimed at greatly expanding the benefits net energy metering to a wider group of energy producer/users.

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