Ameresco, Republic services launch RNG facility at Illinois landfill

Ameresco Inc., Framingham, Massachusetts, and Phoenix-based Republic Services have achieved operation of a renewable natural gas (RNG) facility at the Upper Rock Island County Landfill in East Moline, Illinois.

The Ameresco-owned asset will convert landfill gas (LFG) from the Upper Rock Landfill into pipeline-quality RNG that can be used as a low-carbon transportation fuel, among other applications.

The 5.2-megawatt electrical RNG facility is designed to capture raw landfill gas and process 2,000 standard cubic feet per minute into pipeline-quality RNG, producing more than 500,000 Dekatherms each year.

Ameresco says the facility is expected to avoid more than 27,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions each year.

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“The conversion of organic waste into renewable energy serves as a cornerstone of the circular economy,” says Michael Bakas, president of renewable fuels at Ameresco. “The Upper Rock project adds another high-quality RNG facility to our portfolio and demonstrates the scalable model we’ve built organically in partnership with Republic Services. This project will displace fossil fuels, cut local emissions and deliver meaningful benefits for our partners and the communities they serve.”

As the sixteenth operational project developed by Ameresco and Republic Services, Ameresco says this project supports Illinois’ clean energy targets of 40 percent renewable energy by 2030 and 100 percent clean energy by 2050 and directly contributes to Republic Services’ goal to beneficially reuse 50 percent more biogas by 2030.

“Republic Services is committed to driving sustainability through innovative decarbonization solutions that create meaningful benefits for the communities we serve,” says Tim Oudman, senior vice president of sustainability innovation at Republic Services. “The Upper Rock project represents another milestone in our longstanding partnership with Ameresco and underscores our shared commitment to building a more sustainable future.”