New Illinois RNG Plant Enters Commercial Operation
The Facility Will Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions By More Than 90,390 Tons Per Year
Ameresco and Republic Services have achieved commercial operation at the landfill gas (LFG) to renewable natural gas (RNG) plant located at Republic Services’ Roxana Landfill in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Roxana RNG facility captures naturally occurring landfill gas and processes it into pipeline-quality RNG. This project uses previously flared LFG to create RNG that will displace fossil fuel in a nearby Energy Transfer natural gas transmission pipeline. The facility, which is one of the largest of its type in North America, is designed to process 6000 standard cubic feet per minute of raw landfill gas.
It is estimated that the facility will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 90,390 tons (82,000 tonnes) per year, which is equivalent to the annual emissions from about 5000 average passenger vehicles, or the energy consumption of approximately 2500 homes. The facility decreases reliance on fossil fuels and advances increased environmental sustainability through the promotion of a renewable resource by extracting value from waste and transforming it into a clean energy source. The project also supports Illinois’ goal to increase its renewable energy portfolio. Illinois has committed to achieving 40% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2050.
“At Republic Services, our longstanding sustainability goal is to beneficially reuse 50% more biogas at our locations by 2030,” said Tim Oudman, senior vice president of sustainability innovation at Republic Services. “Through partnerships like this, we are able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop a renewable resource that helps meet energy demands while protecting the environment.”
The Roxana facility marks the 14th time that Republic Services and Ameresco have collaborated on a renewable energy project, with another eight projects in various stages of development, permitting, and construction.
“Today’s announcement marks a momentous occasion in Ameresco’s 22-year partnership with Republic Services. This is the first time that our firms have formed a joint venture to co-invest in a new, renewable energy facility,” said Michael Bakas, president of renewable fuels at Ameresco. “Republic Services and Ameresco have similar visions to create a more sustainable world. This project does just that as part of the circular economy turning waste into a reliable source of renewable energy that has a tremendous impact on our environment.”
