Renewable Natural Gas facility opens at Brickyard Landfill

Kaighla White Kaighla., Commercial-News, Danville, Ill.
·2 min read

Jun. 21—Ameresco and Republic Services have combined their efforts toward combating climate change with the opening of the new Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility at Brickyard Landfill in Danville.

As landfill waste decays, a number of landfill gases, such as methane, carbon dioxide, and other harmful contaminants are produced. The build-up of these gases traps heat in the atmosphere, impacting the earth's temperature and climate system, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The RNG facility at Brickyard Landfill — which has been in the works for four years now — offers a clean, renewable alternative via Republic Services and Ameresco's Landfill Gas-to-Energy (LFGTE) technology, which converts raw landfill gas into Renewable Natural Gas.

RNG is a low-carbon transportation fuel which Ameresco and Republic Services hope will begin replacing fossil fuel sources, thereby "contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, fostering a cleaner environment and improved public health."

"Diesel is a very filthy fuel. The natural gas that we put in vehicles is 90 percent cleaner than diesel," says Jim Bier, Ameresco's Senior Project Developer. "It's a material impact on the environment and really, it's combating climate change."

After the raw landfill gases are converted into RNG, it is then "injected into a nearby natural gas pipeline owned by Energy Transfer, and then that gas is used in vehicle fuels," says Bier.

Although the facility is new, the LFGTE technology being used there is well-researched and safe, and has been around for several decades.

"It's very safe," says Bier. "Ameresco is very committed to health and safety, improving the environment, and keeping our employees safe. We've operated close to 40 of these plants across the country and our OSHA health and safety record is the best in the industry."

"Without a [RNG] plant at a facility, that gas is just being emitted into the atmosphere where it is being flared. This is a beneficial way to reuse that gas for a multitude of different purposes," says Meredith Gipson, Director of Renewable Energy Development at Republic Services.