Today, global waste solutions company, Brightmark, announced it broke ground on three renewable natural gas (RNG) projects in Michigan. Accordingly, these projects are owned by and will be operated through subsidiaries of Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC.
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Worth noting, Brightmark currently owns and operates 27 RNG projects in 8 US states. Besides, the waste solutions provider will manage six RNG projects in Michigan upon completion of these three projects. Indeed, Brightmark expects these projects to come into operations in the first half of 2022.
Particularly of this portfolio of RNG projects, subsidiaries of the joint venture with Chevron own 17.
According to a media release shared by the company, these projects will collectively generate approximately 89,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas credits; particularly following the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
Besides, Brightmark noted that the products generated in part from renewable feedstocks by the projects include biofertilizer, digested dairy fiber, and irrigation water.
About the projects
In this sense, one of the projects is the Red Arrow RNG project in Hartford, Michigan. Particularly, this asset – once operating- will use anaerobic digestion to convert 200,000 gallons of manure per day from 5,750 dairy cows.
As a result of this transformation, the project will deliver about 128,000 MMBtu of RNG each year; which, according to Brightmark, is enough fuel to enable a heavy-duty truck to circle Earth at the equator 131 times.
Moreover, the facility will generate approximately 34,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas credits each year. Finally, the RNG produced at Red Arrow Dairy will be injected into the ANR Pipeline.
On the other hand, the waste solutions provider broke ground on the SunRyz RNG project in Morenci, Michigan. Particularly, this facility will convert 133,000 gallons of manure per day from 3,250 dairy cows into about 76,000 MMBtu of RNG each year.
The facility will also generate approximately 27,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions credits. Like the Red Arrow Dairy project, Brightmark will inject the RNG developed at SunRyz into the nearby Rover pipeline.
Lastly, the company announced it broke ground at the Meadow Rock Renewable Natural Gas project in Greenville, Michigan. Indeed, this facility will convert 75,000 gallons of manure per day from 3,020 dairy cows into nearly 67,000 MMBtu of RNG each year. Also, the project will generate approximately 28,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions credits. As the Red Arrow Dairy Project, Brightmark will inject the project’s output into the ANR Pipeline.
Reception and Outlook
In this regard, Bob Powell, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Brightmark said; “Michigan has been a great partner, and we are excited to expand our RNG footprint further here. Also, to break ground on these lifecycle carbon-negative projects.”
Indeed, “transitioning to a lower-carbon energy economy creates significant opportunities for Michigan,” continued Powell. Particularly “to put people to work in good-paying jobs in industries that are key to addressing climate change.”
Therefore, Brightmark’s CEO noted that the company is “proud to be a leader in supporting more sustainable farming practices.” Further, “these new RNG projects have the potential to deliver great financial and environmental benefits; mainly, to the farmers and communities that we partner with,” Powell concluded.
Brightmark RNG Holdings – a JV with Chevron
Indeed, in October 2020, Brightmark LLC and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. originally announced the formation of the Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC joint venture. Accordingly, at the time, the companies aimed to own projects across the US to produce and market dairy biomethane, a renewable natural gas.
As a result, current equity investments by each company in the new venture are funding the construction of infrastructure and commercial operation of dairy biomethane projects.
In brief, Chevron currently purchases RNG produced from these projects and markets the volumes for use in vehicles operating on compressed natural gas.
In this regard, Andy Walz, president of Chevron Americas Fuels & Lubricants, commented; “Working with Brightmark to add new projects in Michigan underpins our commitment to improving how affordable, reliable, ever-cleaner energy is developed and delivered.”
Indeed, “Chevron is seeking to advance the energy transition by leveraging our existing capabilities across the full RNG value chain,” Walz added. Mainly “to maximize margin capture and help industries and consumers that use our products build a lower carbon future.”
