Renewable natural gas (RNG) is a type of natural gas that is produced from renewable sources such as organic waste materials, including food waste, agricultural waste, and sewage. RNG is also known as bio-methane and is chemically identical to traditional natural gas, which is mostly composed of methane.

RNG is produced through a process called anaerobic digestion, which is a biological process that breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. This process produces methane, which is then captured and used as a source of energy. Because RNG is produced from renewable sources, it is considered to be a clean, low-carbon fuel that can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

RNG can be used for a variety of energy applications, such as heating, transportation, and power generation. It is also considered a cleaner alternative to traditional natural gas because it reduces the emissions of methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas and is released when traditional natural gas is extracted and transported.

The use of RNG can also help to reduce the amount of organic waste that ends up in landfills, which can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Hence why $WM has been investing a lot in its "energy" business. Meanwhile, $CVX is working with $CLNE and dairy farmers to take methane from cow waste and convert it into RNG.

One reason is that the technology for producing RNG is still relatively new, and it is not yet as advanced or as efficient as traditional natural gas production methods. This makes it more expensive to produce than traditional natural gas, which makes it less attractive to investors and consumers.

Another reason is that there are still many logistical challenges to be overcome in the distribution and use of RNG. For example, RNG is typically produced at smaller, decentralized facilities, which can make it difficult to transport and distribute to consumers.

Additionally, the lack of regulations and incentives to support the production and use of RNG is also a factor. Governments and regulatory bodies have not yet fully embraced RNG as a viable source of energy, so there are no specific regulations or incentives to support its development.

Finally, natural gas is still relatively cheap and abundant and has been a reliable source of energy for a long time, so there is not yet a strong economic or environmental incentive for many countries to invest in and adopt RNG on a large scale.

However, with the increased focus on sustainability and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, RNG is being researched, developed, and gaining more attention as a potential source of clean energy.

While this is a bold opinion, hear me out on why:

When we use RNG as a source of fuel, we're incentivizing the use of organic waste as a source of energy. When we use it as a source of energy, we're helping reduce methane emissions into our atmosphere. This is a more practical way of reducing the buildup of CO2 in our atmosphere than converting every vehicle and other items from being gas-powered to electric-powered.

For the auto industry itself, many jobs will be saved as RNG engines will probably need many moving parts. From an ethical perspective, we're draining the amount of money that goes into promoting the slavery system in the African and Asian countries that provide the electric vehicle companies with cobalt and other metals they need to build their vehicles. From an environmental perspective, we will need to destroy less Earth to save the planet (aka less mining) and we also won't need to destroy more rainforests and other habitats that are sitting on top of rich metal reserves.

Also, RNG can be applied anywhere in the world as long as there are things emitting methane (like a landfill, a place where cows are raised, etc.). Energy independence can happen on a wider scale by promoting RNG. No need to double down on green energy and become immensely reliant on China for rare earth metals or do nothing and stick to the status quo and remain reliant on Middle Eastern tyrants who choose to pick fights with each other and take for granted the security that other countries provide them.

Nuclear power is great, but it will continue to promote the environmental damages created by the electric vehicle revolution as people will want to power everything with electricity and rely on batteries made with unethically sourced raw materials.

Solar is great to put on top of our roofs. I don't think we should fill up empty plots of land with solar panels when we can leave those plots of land alone and let the animals live there or turn that plot of land into housing and help alleviate the affordable housing crisis. Wind power is great too, and I'd prefer to have them offshore where the winds are more active, and not onshore where they take up space that could've otherwise been used for more productive purposes.

Geothermal energy is great. In ways, it reminds me of nuclear power as it too is abundant and technically, it can be implemented anywhere as long as the Earth's core remains hot.

I think there needs to be more investment and development of renewable natural gas (RNG) technology. Scratching the surface of it, it holds tons of potential of being a fantastic source of reliable energy and there are fewer environmental setbacks to RNG than many of the other sources of energy, in my view.