Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a revenue-sharing agreement with Trillium Transportation Fuels, LLC (dba Love’s Alternative Energy) for the implementation, administration, RIN tracking, audit documentations, and reporting of the City's Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and Renewable Identification Number (RIN) Program, and to accept monthly payments and revenues generated through the program in accordance with the Federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program. The goal of the program is to utilize RNG in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and generate and monetize the RIN credits, which have the potential to produce up to $1,000,000.00 per year in revenue, depending on CNG volume and RIN market price. In addition, the City of Columbus shall retain carbon credits related to the apportioned RIN remitted to the city for all fuel pumped at its three (3) CNG locations at 4211 Groves RD, 5115 Krieger CT, and 2333 Morse RD.
The Director of Finance and Management, Fleet Management Division, is also authorized to amend, renew, and modify the agreements and any documents necessary to implement and manage the shared contract.
The Department of Finance and Management, Fleet Management Division, solicited Requests for Proposals for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and Renewable Identification Number (RIN) program. The project was formally advertised on Vendor Services and Bonfire websites from November 13th, 2025, to December 8th, 2025. The City received seven (7) responses. All proposals were deemed responsive and were fully evaluated when the Evaluation Committee met on January 15, 2026. The responding firms were:
|
Company Name |
City/State |
Majority/MBE/WBE/TBD |
|
Anew RNG LLC |
Houston, TX |
N/A |
|
Clean Energy Renewable Fuels, LLC |
Newport Beach, CA |
N/A |
|
Shell Energy |
San Diego, CA |
N/A |
|
STX Commodities |
New York, NY |
N/A |
|
Trillium Transportation Fuels LLC dba Love’s |
Houston, TX |
TBD |
|
U.S. Energy, a U.S. Venture Company |
Appleton, WI |
N/A |
|
WMRE Holdings, Inc. |
Houston, TX |
N/A |
The two highest scoring firms, Clean Energy and Trillium Transportation Fuels, LLC (dba Love’s Alternative Energy), were then invited to interview with the Evaluation Committee on February 12th, 2026.
Trillium Transportation Fuels, LLC (dba Love’s Alternative Energy) received the highest score by the evaluation committee.
This company is not debarred according to the Federal excluding parties listing or prohibited from being awarded a contract as per the Auditor of State unresolved findings for recovery certified search.
Fiscal Impact: No funding is required as Trillium Transportation Fuels, LLC (dba Love’s Alternative Energy) has secured reliable supplies of renewable natural gas (RNG) and manages to monetize the generated RIN credits. They will also share a portion of the revenue it generates with the Department of Finance and Management pursuant to the terms of the proposed revenue sharing agreement.
Emergency action is requested to avoid a delay in the processing, transfer, and sale of eligible RIN credits, minimize the City’s exposure to fluctuations in RIN market values, and to avoid delays in receiving revenue generated from the City’s renewable fuel activities.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into an agreement with and to accept payments from Trillium Transportation Fuels, LLC (dba Love’s Alternative Energy) relative to the Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and Renewable Identification Number (RIN) Program; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City's Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and Renewable Identification Number (RIN) Program will utilize RNG in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and generate and monetize the RIN credits; and
WHEREAS, this legislation seeks to authorize the Director of Finance and Management, to enter into a revenue sharing agreement as may be necessary, with Trillium Transportation Fuels, LLC (dba Love’s Alternative Energy) for the implementation, administration, RIN tracking, audit documentations, and reporting of the City's Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and Renewable Identification Number (RIN) Program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus shall retain carbon credits related to the apportioned RIN remitted to the city for all fuel pumped at its three (3) CNG locations at 4211 Groves RD, 5115 Krieger CT, and 2333 Morse RD; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Finance and Management, Fleet Management Division, solicited Requests for Proposals for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and Renewable Identification Number (RIN) program; and
WHEREAS, Trillium Transportation Fuels, LLC (dba Love’s Alternative Energy) submitted the best overall proposal for this project; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the executed agreement(s), Trillium Transportation Fuels, LLC (dba Love’s Alternative Energy) would be obligated to pay the Department of Finance and Management a monthly revenue; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the passage of this legislation so implementation of the project can avoid a delay in the processing, transfer, and sale of eligible RIN credits, minimize the City’s exposure to fluctuations in RIN market values, and to avoid delays in receiving revenue generated from the City’s renewable fuel activities, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management be, and hereby is, authorized to enter into a revenue sharing agreement and any other instrument as may be necessary, with Trillium Transportation Fuels, LLC (dba Love’s Alternative Energy), to facilitate the successful implementation and operation of the City's Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and Renewable Identification Number (RIN) Program and to accept payments from Trillium Transportation Fuels (dba Love’s) relative to that program.
SECTION 2. That the City of Columbus shall retain carbon credits related to the apportioned RIN remitted to the city for all fuel pumped at its three (3) CNG locations at 4211 Groves RD, 5115 Krieger CT, and 2333 Morse RD.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.