Supporters tell revenue committee renewable natural gas should qualify as renewable heating fuel

State and regional supporters urged the Joint Committee on Revenue on Tuesday to recognize renewable natural gas as a qualified heating fuel under Senate Bill 1998 and its House companion, House Bill 3230. Janem Serres, manager of state legislative affairs for the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, testified in favor of the bills.

Serres told the committee the coalition represents more than 400 members that produce over 90% of the renewable natural gas used across North America. “By capturing and using that methane for heating purposes, RNG can prevent greenhouse gas emissions at the source while also displacing fossil natural gas,” Serres said. She added that methane captured from landfills, farms, wastewater and food waste “is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide over a 20-year lifespan.”

Serres said projects that recover methane can be carbon-negative over their life cycle and argued the bills take “a practical approach to decarbonizing the heating sector.” She asked the committee to ensure flexibility in geographic deliverability, reasonable gas-quality standards and balanced compliance mechanisms so both in-state and regional producers can participate.

She also said RNG projects create local jobs and infrastructure investment in communities where plants are built. Serres concluded the bills offer a “smart, results-driven pathway to lower emissions and support local economies while putting otherwise wasted energy to productive use.”

The hearing was a public legislative hearing; no formal committee actions or votes on the bills were recorded in the transcript segment provided. The committee indicated written testimony deadlines and procedural rules at the start of the hearing.