By Scout Nelson
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has launched two renewable natural gas production sites in South Dakota, Drumgoon Dairy in Lake Norden and Tri-Cross Dairy in Viborg.
These facilities will supply over 2.66 million gallons of RNG annually to the transportation market, a significant step towards sustainable fuel solutions and the innovative use of dairy farm methane.
Drumgoon Dairy, with its 6500 cows, and Tri-Cross Dairy, home to 5000 cows, are at the forefront of this initiative. Both sites have constructed state-of-the-art RNG digesters, turning methane from cow manure into clean, sustainable fuel.
The Drumgoon facility alone is expected to contribute 1.66 million gallons of RNG every year, following a US$38 million investment.
Clay Corbus, senior vice president of renewables at Clean Energy, highlighted the projects' role in reducing harmful emissions and their contribution to the company's growth in RNG sales.
Sales of RNG to the transport sector saw a 17% increase in the first nine months of 2023 compared to the previous year. High-profile customers like UPS, Amazon, and LA Metro are part of this growing trend towards cleaner fuel alternatives.
These developments are part of a broader strategy by Clean Energy, in partnership with BP and Dynamic Renewables, to increase the production of low-carbon RNG.
This initiative is timely, coinciding with the anticipated rise in demand for RNG fuel, particularly with the introduction of Cummins' X15N natural gas engine for heavy-duty trucks.
The environmental impact of these projects cannot be overstated. Agriculture and transportation are significant contributors to US greenhouse gas emissions.
By capturing and repurposing methane from dairy farms, these RNG facilities not only provide a renewable energy source but also help reduce overall emissions, demonstrating a sustainable path forward in fuel production and consumption.
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Categories: South Dakota, Energy