Viridi Energy and City of Lincoln Launch Landmark Renewable Natural Gas Project to Transform Landfill Emissions Into Clean Energy
Viridi Energy has officially begun construction on a major renewable natural gas (RNG) facility at the City of Lincoln’s Bluff Road Landfill, marking an important step forward in the city’s sustainability efforts and the broader transition toward low-carbon energy solutions in the United States.
The groundbreaking ceremony signals the start of a long-term initiative designed to capture methane generated by landfill operations and convert it into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas. Once completed, the facility will turn landfill emissions that would otherwise be wasted or flared into a valuable energy resource capable of supplying homes and businesses with cleaner fuel while significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
The project represents a significant investment in renewable infrastructure and demonstrates how municipalities can use existing waste streams to create environmental and economic value. By utilizing advanced gas upgrading technologies, the facility will convert methane produced by decomposing organic materials into renewable fuel that can be injected directly into regional natural gas distribution systems.
According to Viridi Energy, the development aligns with the company’s broader mission of accelerating decarbonization, reducing methane emissions, and expanding access to reliable renewable energy resources across North America.
Public-Private Partnership Drives Project Development
The Lincoln landfill project originated through a competitive public procurement process. The City of Lincoln issued a Request for Proposals seeking a qualified partner that could finance, design, construct, own, operate, and maintain a landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas facility at the Bluff Road Landfill, located at 6001 Bluff Road.
Viridi Energy was selected to lead the initiative due to its experience in developing landfill gas projects and its ability to deliver complex infrastructure projects through flexible commercial partnerships.
Dan Crouse, Chief Executive Officer of Viridi Energy, said the groundbreaking represents far more than the beginning of construction activities.
According to Crouse, the project symbolizes a long-term investment in Lincoln’s energy future and highlights the growing role renewable natural gas can play in strengthening local energy security while advancing sustainability objectives.
He noted that the facility is expected to provide enough renewable energy to meet approximately 10% of the heating requirements of households in the community, creating a dependable and locally sourced low-carbon fuel supply.
Crouse also emphasized Viridi’s ability to work collaboratively with municipalities, utilities, and private-sector organizations through a range of commercial structures, enabling projects to move from concept to operation with greater certainty and efficiency.
Facility Designed to Process Significant Volumes of Landfill Gas
Viridi expects the renewable natural gas facility to become operational during the first quarter of 2027.
Once online, the plant will have the capability to process approximately 3,000 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) of landfill gas produced at the Bluff Road Landfill.
The captured gas will undergo treatment and upgrading processes that remove impurities and increase methane concentration, allowing the fuel to meet pipeline-quality specifications. The resulting renewable natural gas will then be injected into the natural gas distribution system operated by Black Hills Energy.
This process creates a circular energy model in which emissions generated from waste decomposition are transformed into useful energy resources rather than being released into the atmosphere.
Methane is considered one of the most potent greenhouse gases, with a warming potential significantly greater than carbon dioxide over shorter timeframes. Capturing and utilizing landfill methane therefore offers one of the most immediate and effective methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
By preventing methane emissions and displacing conventional fossil natural gas, the Lincoln facility is expected to generate substantial environmental benefits throughout its operating life.
Renewable Energy for Thousands of Homes
Upon completion, the project is expected to produce enough renewable energy annually to meet the equivalent heating demands of approximately 12,000 homes.
This output highlights the increasing importance of renewable natural gas as a dependable and dispatchable source of renewable energy. Unlike certain intermittent renewable resources, RNG can be stored and transported through existing pipeline infrastructure, enabling it to serve residential, commercial, and industrial customers when needed.
The facility will also contribute to local economic development.
Construction activities are expected to create employment opportunities and stimulate regional economic activity through the procurement of equipment, engineering services, and specialized labor. Once operational, the project will support long-term careers associated with facility operations and maintenance, as well as the management of the landfill’s gas collection and control systems.
Additionally, the production of renewable fuel and associated environmental credits will create long-term economic value while contributing to the development of a circular economy in which waste streams become productive assets.
Black Hills Energy Supports Renewable Gas Integration
Black Hills Energy will play an important role in integrating the renewable natural gas into its existing natural gas distribution network.
Katie Fleming, Vice President of Customer Experience and Chief Sustainability Officer at Black Hills Energy, said the company’s mission is centered on improving lives through energy solutions that are both reliable and sustainable.
She noted that the Lincoln landfill project represents Black Hills Energy’s second renewable natural gas partnership within the city and reflects the utility’s broader commitment to collaborating with community partners on innovative low-carbon initiatives.
According to Fleming, renewable natural gas interconnections not only support regional decarbonization efforts but also contribute to the expansion of the broader low-carbon fuel market.
Black Hills Energy has established ambitious sustainability objectives, including a target of achieving net-zero emissions for its natural gas distribution system by 2035.
Fleming stated that renewable natural gas is expected to become an increasingly important component of the company’s long-term decarbonization strategy and a key element of the future energy mix.
Strengthening Lincoln’s Sustainable Infrastructure
The groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of a project that positions Lincoln among a growing number of municipalities embracing renewable natural gas technology as part of their climate and sustainability strategies.
Cities across North America are increasingly recognizing landfill gas utilization projects as practical and scalable solutions for reducing emissions while generating local economic and environmental benefits.
For Lincoln, the project represents a major investment in sustainable infrastructure and energy resilience.
Liz Elliott, Director of Transportation and Utilities for the City of Lincoln, said the initiative demonstrates the city’s commitment to converting innovative ideas into meaningful action.
She emphasized that capturing landfill biogas that would otherwise be wasted allows the community to strengthen energy resilience, lower emissions, and generate long-term value for residents.
The project also illustrates how municipalities can leverage existing infrastructure assets to create measurable environmental impacts without requiring entirely new energy generation systems.
Expanding Viridi Energy’s Growing RNG Portfolio
The Lincoln development represents the fourth landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas facility within Viridi Energy’s expanding project portfolio.
The company is simultaneously advancing a fifth landfill gas-to-RNG facility in Texas, further strengthening its position as a leading developer in the renewable natural gas sector.
Together, these projects will contribute to a total portfolio processing capacity of approximately 2.3 million MMBtu, reflecting the company’s growing role in supporting North America’s transition toward lower-carbon energy systems.
As governments, utilities, and industries increasingly seek practical pathways to reduce emissions, renewable natural gas is gaining recognition as one of the most effective near-term solutions for methane mitigation and sustainable energy production.
By converting landfill emissions into clean, pipeline-quality fuel, the Lincoln RNG project demonstrates how communities can transform waste challenges into long-term opportunities, delivering environmental benefits, strengthening local energy security, supporting economic development, and advancing broader climate objectives.
Source Link: https://www.businesswire.com/
