Energy Vision

05/28/2026

Energy Vision’s Director of Research and Publications, Michael Lerner, had an op-ed published in the Journal of Commerce!

“War-driven energy shock makes case for more alternative fuels”

The war in Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz have increased volatility in bunker fuel prices, with average VLSFO costs worldwide rising from $540/mt in early February to over $930/mt today.

And even as the fate of the International Maritime Organization’s proposed Net-Zero Framework remains up in the air, the case for adopting low carbon shipping fuels is getting stronger by the day.

Read the full op-ed here → https://www.joc.com/article/war-driven-energy-shock-makes-case-for-more-alternative-fuels-6213918

Check our new report The Future of Shipping: Cleaner Fuel Options for the Maritime Sector →https://energy-vision.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TheFutureOfShipping-EnergyVision.pdf

05/08/2026

Energy Vision’s Joanna Underwood has published an Op-Ed in Environment + Energy Leader!

New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) largely ignores organic waste as a major and ongoing source of methane emissions, despite being one of the most potent greenhouse gases.

This oversight can be corrected through two crucial changes:

Updating CLCPA’s definition of renewable energy to include anaerobic digestion of organic waste.
Adopting lifecycle carbon accounting.

Together, these proposed changes could help close critical policy gaps and unlock scalable climate solutions that are available today.

Read the full article here → https://www.environmentenergyleader.com/stories/new-yorks-climate-law-has-a-blind-spot-heres-the-fix,125237

RNG captured from organic waste could slash emissions and boost grid resilience. Two changes to New York's climate law would make it happen.

05/01/2026

Check out case studies in Energy Vision’s new report, The Future of Shipping: Cleaner Fuel Options for the Maritime Sector!

While international policy sets the tone, real momentum in maritime decarbonization is increasingly coming from companies willing to act ahead of regulation, such as:

Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) is a coalition of major consumer brands aiming to accelerate the adoption of zero emission maritime fuels by pooling demand and signing long-term agreements on the most competitive terms. Its member companies (including Amazon, Patagonia, and Tchibo) are responsible for paying fuel premiums in the short term in exchange for long-term economic and environmental sustainability.

Maersk has positioned itself at the forefront of maritime decarbonization, pledging that 25% of its global fleet will run on low-carbon methanol by 2030. The company has begun launching dual-fuel methanol vessels, while also aiming for faster emission cuts this decade by ordering dual-fuel LNG ships and signing supply agreements for bioLNG.

Nestlé has committed to shipping 100% of its ocean containers via Maersk’s ECO Delivery program, which uses second generation biofuels (likely renewable diesel) made from waste feedstocks. This shift is expected to cut its annual emissions by 200k metric tons of CO2e annually (equal to avoiding 500k barrels of crude oil each year).

Fortescue owns and operates the Green Pioneer, the world’s first ammonia-powered ship. The Australian mining company, which burns the equivalent of 450-500 million gallons of diesel annually, is betting big on green ammonia to decarbonize profitably. The Green Pioneer’s successful safety and bunkering demonstrations have helped set the stage for the first ammonia-powered cargo ships, which are under construction and expected to debut in the next few years.

United European Car Carriers (UECC) has embraced bioLNG supplemented by liquid biofuels and other sustainability measures (like battery-hybrid models) on the way toward its goal of net-zero emissions by 2040. In 2016, the company debuted the world’s first dual-fuel LNG “pure car and truck carriers” (PCTCs), with high-pressure, two-stroke engines, that have the lowest rates of methane slip. In 2024 and 2025, non-fossil fuels made up >40% of its total bunkering, up from 10% in 2022, and it’s forecasting close to 60% by 2030. Customers can cut Scope 3 emissions via UECC’s Sail for Change program, where their vehicles are transported on its five PCTCs (in European waters) that run on bioLNG; the company has ordered four more bioLNG-capable PCTCs to be delivered in 2028.

These leadership examples show a growing alignment between shippers, customers, and fuel producers that is key to building a scalable, low-emission global shipping system.

Full report →https://energy-vision.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/TheFutureOfShipping-EnergyVision.pdf

04/22/2026

This year, Earth Day can't just be about awareness. It must be about action.

The truth is, we already have solutions. Right now, in Harrisburg, PA, Capital Region Water is transforming wastewater into clean, renewable natural gas (RNG) — with guidance from Energy Vision. Instead of letting methane escape into the atmosphere, it's captured and put to work.

Less waste. Cleaner air. Immediate impact.

This isn't theoretical — it's working. And it could be replicated in nearly every community across the U.S.

So this Earth Day, ask your community one simple question: What are we doing with our organic waste? Because the answer could help shape our climate future.

Let's stop waiting and start scaling what works.

04/20/2026

New Energy Vision report!

The Future of Shipping: Cleaner Fuel Options for the Maritime Sector

Maritime shipping is the backbone of global trade, yet it remains one of the most fossil fuel-dependent sectors in the world. Today, shipping consumes over 87 billion gallons of marine fuel each year and is responsible for almost 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Beyond its impact on climate, shipping also poses serious risks to public health from its emissions of air pollutants, which are linked to higher rates of respiratory and cardiovascular disease in and around port communities. At the same time, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) projects that maritime trade could increase 40-115% by 2050 relative to 2020 levels. As this demand increases, climate impacts and public health risks will only intensify. There’s an enormous opportunity here and momentum is finally growing in the transition to cleaner maritime fuels.

In this report, EV analyzes a suite of low-carbon alternative maritime fuels: renewable diesel, biodiesel, bio-liquefied natural gas (bioLNG), biomethanol, green hydrogen, green ammonia, and e-fuels. We compare these options across lifecycle GHG emissions, cost, infrastructure needs, and scalability, finding that all fuels have tradeoffs and all can be part of the solution set moving forward. As the chart shows, we found that fuels derived from food waste and livestock manure provide the deepest lifecycle emissions reductions, though challenges related to cost and supply remain.

We also outline the current deployment of ships capable of running on alternative fuel. Of the roughly 106,000 commercial ships in the global fleet, just over 1,300 run on alternative fuels, but this number is growing each year. This report examines how regulatory measures from the European Union and IMO are accelerating the adoption of cleaner maritime fuels, and emphasizes the critical role of private sector initiatives. Major consumer product companies and shippers are increasingly developing their own clean fuel programs. Challenges and tradeoffs are prevalent, but so are emerging solutions, including ways to cut problematic “methane slip” from LNG engines. The financial challenge may also be less daunting than it appears—we calculated that the costs of one of the more expensive cleaner fuel options for a trans-Pacific cargo shipment could be covered by an extra 12¢ per pair of sneakers or less than a quarter of a cent more per smartphone.

Ultimately, accelerating maritime decarbonization will require a portfolio approach: one that combines low-carbon biofuels in the near term with continued investment in next-generation fuels. With the right combination of policy support, private sector leadership, and innovative financing, a cleaner maritime sector is both technically achievable and economically viable.

Full report →https://energy-vision.org/pdf/TheFutureOfShipping-EnergyVision.pdf

02/27/2026

This January, New Jersey passed a law (S2464/A2090) requiring each solid waste management district in the State to implement at least a 50% source reduction of organic waste by 2035, from 2022 levels. Acceptable reduction methods include the donation of perishable food, composting, and anaerobic digestion of food waste. This pushes back the State’s original timeline for hitting the 50% reduction goal from 2030 but includes other regulatory steps to give it a better chance of success.

Diverting and recycling food waste from landfills will cut NJ’s methane emissions significantly, as food waste accounts for 58% of fugitive methane emissions from landfills, but recycling it through anaerobic digestion has the potential to offset even more methane. The production and use of biogas can both reduce direct methane emissions and help displace fossil fuel consumption in the state, making this solution a double-win! According to recent estimates in ICF’s 2025 Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Supply Assessment, New Jersey could produce 2.5 million MMBTU/year of RNG from food waste – enough to displace over 19 million gallons of diesel annually!

As federal climate leadership has effectively disappeared, methane reduction targets will increasingly depend on strong state-level policies and action. New Jersey’s recent legislation shows the road isn’t always easy, but that reducing the amount of food waste destined for landfills remains an important proven strategy.

Read the law here →https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/A2500/2090_R2.PDF

02/13/2026

Administrations Come and Go; The Consequences of Climate Inaction Do Not

This week the Trump administration moved to repeal the “Endangerment Finding”, the EPA’s long-standing consensus that greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide threaten public health.

As climate-change-induced natural disasters worsen and environmental risks/public health impacts escalate, Energy Vision will not wait for Washington.

Now, more than ever, it is urgent that city and state governments and forward-thinking industry leaders continue to take climate action and help us build on the momentum we have seen is possible.

Read our full statement here → https://energyvision.substack.com/p/administrations-come-and-go-the-consequences

01/23/2026

Dive into the New Year by catching up with our latest report: Market Challenges and Opportunities for Dairy Anaerobic Digestion (AD) in Washington State.

Dairy digesters have proven to be among the most effective pathways for methane reduction in California, and while Washington State is already a leader in climate action, its dairy sector has seen almost no new digester development for the past 10 years. But we expect that to change!

EV’s new report outlines 10 policy recommendations to make digesters a more economically viable option for dairies. With dedicated 2026 grant funding and additional policy support, Washington is still well positioned to reach its climate/clean energy goals, support its dairy farmers, and serve as a model for other states looking to cut methane in a smart and cost-effective manner.

On top of that, there are major new cross-cutting opportunities to pair climate-smart agricultural practices – including dairy digester buildout – with Washington’s nation-leading push to build out its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) industry.

Read the full report to learn how Washington can scale dairy digesters and turn methane into a climate and economic win →https://energy-vision.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/EnergyVision-WA-AD.pdf

#2026

12/23/2025

Happy Holidays from the Energy Vision Team!

As we look back on our progress toward cleaner energy and reduced methane emissions, we are thankful to everyone who helps make our work possible. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season and look forward to continued progress in 2026!

12/19/2025

Landfill RNG Momentum Growing in Colorado!

This week, Colorado adopted a strong new rule to cut methane emissions from landfills. The rule requires landfills to find and capture methane faster, use better monitoring technology, and act earlier to prevent leaks. Energy Vision highlighted this approach in our July 2025 Leading With Landfills report. The state estimates the rule will prevent about $1 billion in climate damage between 2029 and 2050—far outweighing the roughly $175 million in compliance costs.

Meanwhile, a new project by the Denver Department of Public Health and Houston-based WM highlights the economic upside for new landfill gas capture systems. On December 2nd, 2025, the two organizations announced plans to develop Colorado's first landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas (RNG) facility. Currently about one-third of the gas produced at the Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site (DADS) is captured and converted into electricity, while the remaining gas is flared. This new RNG facility, which will begin construction in late 2026, will capture and convert nearly all of the remaining gas into RNG, turning a major waste-sector emission source into a locally produced fuel.

Landfills are Colorado’s third-largest source of methane emissions. Projects like the upcoming one at DADS are not only critical for meeting methane reduction goals, but, as detailed in Leading with Landfills, they can also relatively quickly pay for themselves by producing a valuable end product: RNG. These landfill gas to RNG projects make good economic sense – especially if using advanced landfill tech as described in our report – even if regulations tighten, as they now will in Colorado. Taking proven, proactive steps now can future-proof landfill RNG projects.

Colorado’s progress highlights a clear path forward: when policy and innovation work together, we can find cost-effective solutions to cut methane emissions and build a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

Read the full "Leading with Landfills" report here →https://energy-vision.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EnergyVision-LeadingWithLandfills.pdf