America is in the midst of an energy transition that is impacting all sectors of our society, changing the way we power our industries, heat our homes, fuel our cars, and grow our food. The energy systems of the future must continue to be reliable, abundant and affordable, while also addressing climate change and other environmental challenges. Progress is being made to decarbonize the electric grid, where renewables plus nuclear energy now constitute over 42% of the energy supply1. However, there is another energy grid, the natural gas grid, where renewables represent less than 0.5% of the supply2,3. Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), produced from organic wastes and biomass through the process of anaerobic digestion, can play several unique and critical roles in the energy transition. Among other benefits, RNG can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in otherwise difficult to decarbonize sectors of the economy while also serving as an engine of economic growth and rural development, and improving the environmental sustainability of food and agricultural systems.
