Ramp Up Climate Action Quickly and Affordably with RNG

Climate change is immient, and decisive action is needed on the best path forward. For governments and business leaders, it’s a complex issue: many solutions require significant

cost investment, new infrastructure, or decades to effectively transition. As decisions are weighed over longer-term plans, here’s why leaders are choosing renewable natural gas (RNG) as an immediate, cost-effective solution to reduce Ontario’s emissions.

A pragmatic solution to a tough problem

To step up climate action quickly and affordably, RNG is among the most pragmatic of approaches. More than a third of the food produced and distributed in the country gets discarded.* RNG is produced from organic waste, so that uneaten potato salad or apple core is diverted from the landfill and repurposed as a renewable energy source. RNG is carbon-neutral and can also be added to the natural gas network. Unlike

the electricity system, no infrastructure expansion is required to enable greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions.

The benefit of producing and using RNG is that it captures methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Although methane from decomposing organic waste accounts for only 10 percent of GHG emissions, it contributes to global warming — it’s about 25 more harmful than carbon dioxide.†

Proven, scalable, and quick to implement, RNG is not the only solution to climate change — but it’s an immediate, feasible way to reduce emissions and put Ontario on track for its long-term climate commitments.

With RNG produced from organic waste, vehicles can be carbonnegative

One of the most exciting applications for RNG is in the transportation sector. Earlier this year, Ontario’s first carbon-negative bus in Hamilton set new standards for sustainable transit. Launched in partnership with Enbridge Gas, the bus is fuelled by locally-sourced RNG produced at the Stormfisher facility in London, ON. RNG is renewable and plentiful, and its cumulative impact — from diverting methane to displacing diesel emissions— takes the vehicle’s emissions to below zero.

The carbon-negative bus is just one example of an effective and scalable step forward. In recent years, Hamilton Street Railway moved away from diesel and expanded its fleet with more than

130 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. Today, it’s uniquely positioned to fuel

them with compressed RNG and amplify its environmental impact even further.

The “quick win” of decarbonizing light-duty fleets

what about vehicles that still have years of useful life? Rather than electrify an

entire fleet at once, it’s more manageable to convert existing diesel, propane or gasoline vehicles to RNG and reduce emissions right away. There are many opportunities in light- to medium-duty fleets (Class 1 – 6), including:

• Snow plows

• Refuse trucks

• Delivery trucks

• Supervisory vehicles

• Public works vehicles

• Emergency vehicles

• School buses

CNG vehicles serve as a low-risk, lowcost “proof of concept” to support the case

for larger RNG projects. In the long run, demonstrating success at a small scale

will help strengthen the case for broader RNG fleet conversions.

The City of Toronto has implemented an initiative to produce and use RNG.

Every year, about 35 percent of the City of Toronto’s Green Bin organic waste is transformed into RNG, diverting about 55,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfills. The RNG is used to fuel the city’s waste collection fleet and added to

the natural gas system, which cuts down on GHG emissions and reduces reliance on landfills.

Expert help to find the lowest-cost path to conversion

Every climate solution has complexity. Embridge Gas' dedicated team of energy experts are ready to provide you with the technical expertise and information to produce and use RNG. Enbridge Gas works

closely with agribusiness, food processors, municipalities, waste management, and other organizations to help identify, facilitate, and get RNG projects off the ground.

As partners in sustainability, Enbridge's team can help find RNG opportunities that leverage existing investments in vehicles or buildings. Take advantage of expertise, insights from successful past projects, and access to the North American marketplace.

RNG will play an important role in the clean energy transition. As plans to reduce emissions evolve, it’s a promising and proven way for more leaders to take meaningful

climate action.