Ribbon cutting ceremony celebrates renewable natural gas facility

DAVID CITY, Neb., (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aria Energy, a Michigan-based renewable energy company recently celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony for their newest Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility at the Waste Connections-owned Butler County Landfill in David City, Neb. on Friday, July 26.

Aria Energy constructed, owns and operates the project processing and purifying up to 1,000 cubic feet per minute of Landfill Gas into pipeline quality RNG. The RNG is transported to the interstate pipeline through Black Hills Energy’s distribution system. The RNG is sold to Constellation with an intended use by Constellation’s customers as fuel for natural gas vehicle fleets.

“We’re pleased to support this project to bring more renewable energy options to Nebraska. Renewable Natural Gas is just one more example of how Black Hills Energy is achieving our vision of being the energy partner of choice,” said Jeff Sylvester, vice president of Nebraska Natural Gas Operations for Black Hills Energy. 

The event was attended by Senator Deb Fischer, Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley, NEE Director Jim Macy, local officials and representatives from Waste Connections, Black Hills Energy and Aria Energy.

“It is an honor to have Senator Fischer attend our event and speak about the RFS Integrity Act of 2019,” said Richard DiGia, Aria Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Finding consistency and transparency in the RFS rulemaking process is key to encourage Aria Energy and other developers to continue investing in projects like Butler.”

As of April 2019, there were 96 operating RNG projects and 61 RNG projects under construction or in advanced development. The RNG industry has grown rapidly in a short period of time, with significant further growth anticipated in the near term.

Use of RNG, a low-carbon fuel, results in approximately 70 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions than from equivalent gasoline or diesel fueled vehicles. According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calculations, the Butler project directly reduces emissions from 5,500 tons of methane and avoids nearly 14,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, the equivalent of removing 600 passenger vehicles from the road.

In addition to the environmental benefits, development of a new RNG facility also creates significant employment including temporary construction jobs and permanent employees for on-site operations.

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