The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) and the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) say that proposed changes to federal emission standards for stationary reciprocating internal combustion engines could harm renewable energy projects at landfills.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed updates to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for stationary reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE). According to NSWMA and SWANA, the proposed changes would no longer exempt engines fired by landfill and digester gases from the regulations.

“By subjecting landfill and digester gas-fired RICE to these new requirements, EPA would eliminate numerous and necessary renewable energy projects,” said a press release issued by NSWMA and SWANA.

“EPA should reconsider its proposed rulemaking on landfill and digester gas-fired engines and include an appropriate exemption from the proposed rule to make it consistent with federal and state policy which strongly supports and promotes the use of renewable fuels — not creating obstacles to renewable energy projects and forcing existing renewable projects off-line,” said NSWMA President and CEO Bruce J. Parker in the press release.

“Landfill-gas-to-energy projects are a reliable source of renewable energy. Such projects help reduce American dependence on foreign sources of energy, and they address global warming by capturing methane, which is a greenhouse gas,” added SWANA Executive Director and CEO John H. Skinner. “By making the changes we suggest, EPA would be fostering these projects.”