A bill that would authorize public utility districts, including Klickitat County PUD, to sell biogenic carbon dioxide and other bio-gas products passed the state House of Representatives on Monday, 97-0.
House Bill 2069, authored by Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale, would allow the Republic Landfill in Klickitat County to capture carbon dioxide currently released into the air. The landfill, operated by the Klickitat County PUD, already captures methane gas.
“I live in a very green and beautiful area. We have many alternative energy sources, and we’re working on hydro-pump storage. We have many ways of being green and using the beautiful land where we live and still preserve it, including a methane gas plant that operates from our landfill,” explained Mosbrucker from the House floor. “The landfill captures the gas, cleans it, and sells it as a product.”
About 58% of the gas is methane, which produces renewable natural gas. The other 32% is carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) and its derivatives, such as carbon monoxide (CO), can be used in manufacturing processes for food processing, sustainable fuel production, and feedstocks. Mosbrucker says Klickitat County PUD was approached by parties that want to purchase the biogenic CO2, but millions of dollars will need to be invested in equipment that can clean the gas to food-grade safety.
“This is a simple bill that says now that we have people who would like to purchase the CO2 gas, rather than letting it go back into the air, we would also like to invest in a plant which would clean the carbon dioxide so that it could be marketed to prospective buyers,” noted Mosbrucker.
Before making those investments, Mosbrucker says the PUD wants to have the clear authority to sell it. The bill would provide that authority.
“Industrial symbiosis is an amazing thing. We take one person’s waste and turn it into another company’s gold,” she added.
The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration. The 2024 session is scheduled to end March 7.
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