(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]
Note: 469.137 was enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but was not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 469 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.
Note: Sections 1 and 2, chapter 41, Oregon Laws 2021, provide:
Sec. 1. Study of renewable hydrogen production and use. (1) As used in this section, "renewable hydrogen" means hydrogen gas derived from energy sources that do not emit greenhouse gases.
(2) The State Department of Energy shall conduct a study of the benefits of, and the barriers to, renewable hydrogen production and use in Oregon. The study must utilize existing data, studies or other publicly available information to provide a high-level analysis of how renewable hydrogen may support existing renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction policies and goals in Oregon. The study must include:
(a) Identification of the total hydrogen volume currently used annually in Oregon among industries such as technology, manufacturing, medical and chemical.
(b) Identification of the potential applications in Oregon by 2030 of renewable hydrogen in transportation, industry, electricity generation, energy storage and other sectors.
(c) An assessment of the potential for coupling renewable electricity generation and renewable hydrogen production to increase resiliency or provide flexible loads.
(d) A discussion of forecasted costs of renewable hydrogen and how these costs might affect the adoption of renewable hydrogen in Oregon.
(e) Identification of the technological, policy, commercial and economic barriers to adoption of renewable hydrogen in Oregon.
(3) The department shall submit a report on the study, in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to revenue no later than September 15, 2022. [2021 c.41 §1]
Sec. 2. Section 1 of this 2021 Act is repealed on January 2, 2023. [2021 c.41 §2]