Renewable Gases including biomethane or RNG, hydrogen and syngas present an opportunity for members to reduce the carbon intensity of the gas streams provided to their end use customers. Join utility professionals responsible for carbon reduction efforts at their company as we discuss a wide range of strategic topics from policies, regulatory framework, safety and economics to gas quality and operational issues related to these efforts.
General Details
- Program Chair(s)
- Dave Bennett, FortisBC
- Program Location
- Western Energy Institute Facilities
- 1050 SW 6th Ave, Suite 325Portland, Oregon 97204
- Who Should Attend
- Senior Management responsible for Renewable Gas efforts at their utility
- Business Development professionals involved with Renewable Gas efforts at their utility
- Government Affairs and Regulatory professionals within the utility
- Invited Renewable Gas Subject Matter Experts
- Registration Options
Member: $449 USD
Registration includes reception on Tuesday, catered breakfast and lunch at the meeting on Wednesday, and all meeting materials.
- General Cancellation Policy
- Due to contractual obligations, cancellations received 15 business days prior to the program will receive a full refund. Cancellations received 6 to 14 business days prior to the event will receive a refund, less a $100 administrative fee. No shows and last minute cancellations, 5 business days prior to the event or less, will be responsible for the full registration fee. Substitutions from your organization for the same event are always welcome.
- Participation Policy
- Western Energy Institute programs and events are open to energy companies (including gas production and electric generation, gas and electric transmission and gas and electric distribution utilities). Select programs and events are open to energy industry product and service suppliers. Programs and events are closed to all media representatives and to the general public. Recording is not permitted for any portion of the event.
- For more information contact Kris Taylor, Senior Program + Service Company Manager at (971) 930-2033.
Agenda
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Registration
Arrive at registration prepared to present your vaccination card or proof of a negative COVID test (photos accepted). See Onsite Safety + Health Info tab for full details.
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Welcome + Introductions
Attendees will introduce themselves and if time allows are encouraged to discuss issues and opportunities for their company related to renewable gas projects.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Canadian + Provincial Policy Updates
Policy updates since the last meeting will be presented by a variety of Canadian utilities. Utilities are encouraged to discuss policies, issues and opportunities for their company related to renewable gas projects.
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Networking Break
3:45 PM - 4:45 PM
US + State Policy Updates
Policy updates since the last meeting will be presented by a variety of US utilities. Utilities are encouraged to discuss policies, issues and opportunities for their company related to renewable gas projects.
4:45 PM - 5:30 PM
Networking Break
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Reception (dinner on your own)
Reception offsite, location to be announced at meeting. Afterwards, dinner on your own.
Wednesday, June 1, 2022
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Networking breakfast
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
California Policy Updates
Speaker(s): Jared Liu-Klein, Public Policy Manager, Southern California Gas Company
California utilities will share updates on progress of previous initiatives, and which new initiatives have been enacted since the last meeting that affect the natural gas industry and renewable gases.
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Networking Break
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Clean BC Roadmap
Speaker(s): Dave Bennett, Director, Renewable Gas and Low Carbon Fuels, FortisBC
In 2020, new provincial regulations came into effect to reduce methane emissions in the upstream production of natural gas by 45% by 2025 and additional guidance was released in October, 2022. As part of the Roadmap to 2030, B.C. will introduce stronger policies that will reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 75% by 2030 and nearly eliminate all industrial methane emissions by 2035. Hear the details of the provincial regulations as they relate to the natural gas utilities. Under the Roadmap to 2030, B.C. will introduce a cap on greenhouse gas emissions for natural gas utilities, encouraging new investment in low-carbon technologies and fuels as well as energy efficiency. FortisBC’s Clean Growth Innovation Fund supports advances in clean technologies like RNG, carbon and methane capture with $4.9 million per year in funding for four years. Fortis has pledged to reduce its customers' emissions 30% by 2030. https://cleanbc.gov.bc.ca/
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
FortisBC Renewable Gas Initiatives Updates
Speaker(s): Ramsay Cook, Energy Products & Services Manager, Energy Solutions, FortisBC
What measures are FortisBC taking to adhere to the Clean BC regulations? Listen to FortisBC detail their initiatives and steps to meet the Clean BC requirements in a timely manner.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
California Long Term Gas Planning Proceeding
Speaker(s): Nate Taylor, Manager - Investment Analysis & Commercialization, Southern California Gas Company
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
Southern California Gas Updates
Speaker(s): Nate Taylor, Manager - Investment Analysis & Commercialization, Southern California Gas Company
Hear SoCalGas discuss the details of the Renewable Gas Standards bill SB1440, and their Clean Fuels Strategy.
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Networking Break
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Mythbusting Hydrogen
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Hydrogen Project Updates
Speaker(s): Halli Chesser, Project Engineer, NW Natural
Who has what active and proposed hydrogen projects in North America? It is a constantly moving target. Utilities will receive a debrief from the Hydrogen Engineers Forum meeting. Get the latest here to take back to your utility and teams.
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Wrap Up
Utilities will gather to finish previous conversations and suggest topics for consideration for the October, 2022 meeting of this group of renewable gas business development professionals.
Hotel + Travel
- The Duniway Portland, A Hilton Hotel
- 545 SW Taylor
- Portland, OR 97204
- Phone: (503) 553-7000
Click here to make your reservation now.
- Reservation Instructions
Please contact the hotel directly at (503) 553-7000 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute (WEI) Renewable Gases to receive a special rate of $169 USD/night. This rate is guaranteed until May 20, 2022 or until the WEI room block is full.
Onsite Safety + Health Info
It is WEI’s policy that anyone attending a WEI-hosted program be vaccinated for COVID-19. This policy does allow for a negative COVID-19 test to be submitted in lieu of vaccination if the attendee is unable to receive the vaccine and if permitted by local host cities or venues. This policy applies to all WEI staff, as well as attendees, guests, speakers, and exhibitors.
Fully vaccinated is defined by the United States or Canadian governments. WEI accepts the following as proof of vaccination: (1) a CDC or Provincial-issued vaccination card, (2) a photo of a CDC or Provincial-issued vaccination card (front and back); (3) a document of vaccination from a licensed healthcare provider; or (4) a digital vaccine record issued by the State or Province in which the attendee resides.
Proof of a negative COVID-19 test means a printed document or image on a phone from a test provider, laboratory, or government agency-approved at-home test method that shows a negative result of a PCR or antigen COVID-19 test within 72 hours before first entry.
Attendees must show a picture or document with vaccine status or a negative test result upon arrival at the program. Attendees without the required proof will be denied entry. No refunds will be given if any attendee is denied entry due to vaccine and/or testing requirements.
Please refer to WEI’s Safety + Health Code of Conduct for other important considerations.