ORS 469.137: Biogas and renewable natural gas inventory; contents; use; advisory committee.

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Biogas” means gas that is generated from organic waste or other organic materials through anaerobic digestion, gasification, pyrolysis or other technology that converts organic waste to gas. (b) “Renewable natural gas” is biogas that has been processed to be interchangeable with conventional natural gas for the purpose of meeting pipeline quality standards or transportation fuel grade requirements. (2) The State Department of Energy shall develop, maintain and periodically update an inventory of biogas and renewable natural gas resources available to this state. The inventory must include, but need not be limited to: (a) A list of the potential biogas and renewable natural gas sources in this state and the estimated potential production quantities available at each source; (b) An estimate of the energy content of listed potential biogas and renewable natural gas sources; (c) An estimate of the range of technologies available to this state for renewable natural gas production by conversion technologies such as anaerobic digestion and thermal gasification; and (d) A list of the existing biogas production sites in this state that includes: (A) The location of each site; and (B) An assessment of the supply-chain infrastructure associated with the site. (3) The department shall utilize the inventory required by this section, and any other relevant information as considered necessary by the department, to develop and periodically revise an estimate of: (a) The potential quantity of renewable natural gas that could be produced in this state and delivered for use: (A) As a transportation fuel in the form of compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas; and (B) By residential, commercial and industrial consumers of natural gas; (b) The potential for the use of renewable natural gas in this state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; (c) The potential for renewable natural gas in this state to improve air quality; and (d) The technical, market, policy and regulatory barriers to developing and utilizing renewable natural gas in this state. (4) The department shall appoint an advisory committee to assist in developing, maintaining and periodically updating the inventory required by this section. The committee must include but not be limited to persons familiar with the renewable natural gas industry. The committee shall make recommendations to the department: (a) Regarding the identification and removal of barriers to producing and utilizing biogas and renewable natural gas in this state as a means toward providing the greatest feasible reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and improvements in air quality; (b) On establishing policies to promote renewable natural gas; and (c) On any other matters related to this section, as requested by the department. [2017 c.328 §1]