Ontario government looking to change biogas rules for farms

Earlier this week the government of Ontario announced it will launch consultations to identify potential changes that would allow farmers to expand Ontario’s renewable natural gas (RNG) market and boost the province’s biogas sector.

According to a government press release, these consultations will look at how to reduce reduce red tape and grow economic opportunities for on-farm biogas operations.

“Today we are launching consultations designed to unlock the economic potential of the biogas industry,” said Ernie Hardeman, Ontario’s minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, in a press release. “These consultations will focus on identifying potential changes that would enable the biogas sector to access new markets for renewable natural gas through red tape reduction. We want these consultations to pinpoint potential changes that could enable Ontario’s 35-million-dollar-a-year biogas sector to grow by up to 50 per cent over the next five years.”

Specifically, the consultations will look at ways to allow biogas upgrading to produce RNG on-farm, as well as streamline approvals and requirements for off-farm and agricultural feedstocks.