Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Renewable Natural Gas topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
PSC approves interim renewable natural gas quality standards for Columbia Gas of Maryland
Summary
The Public Service Commission unanimously approved interim renewable natural gas (RNG) quality standards for Columbia Gas of Maryland, adopting staff-recommended limits on sulfur, hydrocarbons and aldehydes/ketones and requiring annual reporting to the commission's pipeline safety manager.
The Public Service Commission voted unanimously to approve Columbia Gas of Maryland's renewable natural gas tariff as an interim gas quality standard, contingent on the company accepting staff's technical positions and meeting annual reporting requirements.
Staff said the company’s proposed specifications generally align with industry guidance but identified three parameters it considered too lenient: sulfur, certain halocarbons, and ketones/aldehydes. Samuel Tet of the commission’s engineering division told commissioners that staff recommends a total sulfur limit no higher than two grains per 100 cubic feet, a hydrocarbons limit of 0.1 parts per million and aldehyde/ketone limits of 100 parts per billion; staff also recommended that the company notify the commission’s pipeline safety manager annually (by March 1) of any deviations, discontinuances, or resumptions of RNG deliveries.
The recommendations drew questions about consumer impacts and enforcement. Candace Tanello, senior counsel for Columbia Gas of Maryland, told the commission the company "is prepared to accept staff's recommendations with regard to the reporting requirements" and said the standards proposed by Columbia Gas are based on the company's experience and approvals in other jurisdictions. She noted differences between voluntary industry guidelines and regional regulations, citing the NGA/GTI guidance and a separate SoCal 45 regulatory approach.
A company subject-matter expert described a past field problem caused by siloxane (a surfactant found in consumer products) that combusted into a silica powder, coating burners and sensors and causing some furnaces to fail; the company tightened limits and added monitoring to prevent recurrence. "Their furnace didn't work," the expert said, explaining why tighter specifications can be needed to protect end-user equipment.
The commission's approval is interim and conditioned on Columbia Gas agreeing to staff's proposed numeric limits and the reporting provisions. The company must file a compliance filing reflecting the agreement and implement the reporting obligations; the Commission's pipeline safety manager will receive the required annual notifications. The motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote.
