Dominion Energy has selected Vanguard Renewables to develop multiple projects in the states of Georgia, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, with additional projects being planned across the US
Image: A Vanguard Renewables anaerobic digester at a farm in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Photo: Courtesy of Vanguard Renewables/Business Wire.
Dominion Energy is all set to invest up to $200m in the development of projects that will convert dairy and hog waste into renewable natural gas (RNG) across the US.
As part of the plan, Dominion Energy has selected Vanguard Renewables to develop multiple projects in the states of Georgia, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, with additional projects being planned across the US.
Dominion Energy will own the projects and will sell the RNG, while Vanguard Renewables’ subsidiary Clean Energy Investment USA doing business as Vanguard Renewables will design, develop and operate the projects.
The projects will help in converting methane gas being produced at dairy farms into clean RNG which could heat homes, power businesses and fuel vehicles.
Dominion Energy co-chief operating officer Diane Leopold said: “Through our strategic partnership with Vanguard Renewables and our strategic alliance with Dairy Farmers of America, we’re rapidly accelerating the development of these transformational projects and for the first time on a nationwide scale. The environmental, consumer and agricultural benefits of these projects are truly groundbreaking.
“We’re substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. dairy farms, delivering new sources of clean energy to U.S. consumers and providing a new source of long-term revenue for family farmers across the country.”
Furthermore, Dominion has joined hands with Smithfield Foods to form a large agricultural-based renewable natural gas partnership in the US, with $500m committed over 10 years to convert methane from US hog farms into RNG.
Methane which is produced from a variety of sources such as dairy, hog and food waste, if released into the atmosphere, can emit nearly 25 times more greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide.
Dominion Energy estimates offsetting over 450,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions
By capturing methane and converting it into RNG, Dominion Energy and Vanguard Renewables expect to offset more than 450,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent methane emissions annually. It is equivalent of taking nearly 100,000 cars off the road.
Vanguard Renewables co-founder and chief investment officer Kevin Chase said: “Our multi-year alliance with Dairy Farmers of America demonstrates Vanguard Renewables’ commitment to working with the dairy community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance long-term operational and economic benefits for family farmers.
“For the first time, dairies across the country have partners with substantial financial resources and a deep understanding of the dairy industry working alongside them to take action now to solve these challenges.
“This strategic partnership with Dominion Energy and DFA will have a meaningful impact on greenhouse gas sequestration and dairy waste-to-energy production that will significantly benefit the farm community and the environment.”
An average dairy waste-to-energy project will include a cluster of several farms totalling 20,000 to 30,000 dairy cows. Methane produced from dairy manure is capture through an anaerobic digestion process. Once it is cleaned of any impurities, it is delivered to local customers using existing underground distribution network.