Lincoln Renewable Natural Gas, LLC (LincolnRNG) of Montpelier today filed a petition with the Vermont Public Service Board for a Certificate of Public Good to construct and operate a renewable natural gas plant. The LincolnRNG plant would produce the renewable natural gas (RNG) from dairy farm manure and other organic fuel sources. RNG is interchangeable with conventional natural gas and may be used as an alternative heating and vehicle fuel. LincolnRNG will sell most of the RNG produced by the plant to Middlebury College, to replace the College’s current use of a substantial volume of #6 heating oil.
If approved for operation by the Board, the LincolnRNG plant will be located on the Goodrich Family farm in Salisbury, Vermont. The plant will generate the renewable natural gas from manure produced by the Goodrich Farm along with a group of neighboring dairy farms, and other organic fuel sources from the local area. The plant will include an anaerobic digester tank system to produce bio gas from the fuel sources, and upgrade equipment that would strip out the impurities and convert the bio gas into the finished RNG product.
The LincolnRNG plant has been in development since 2008, and would be the second of its kind in the Unites States. Integrated Energy Solutions, Inc., (IES) a Montpelier-based start-up firm, is the Project developer and Member-Manager of LincolnRNG. The plant is financed by private investment and commercial loan.
“Our filing with the Board is the critical next step for bringing the LincolnRNG plant from concept into actual operation”, said Daniel Smith, President of LincolnRNG and IES. “As presented in the petition, we are ready to begin actual construction and operation after these many years of development.”
“The Lincoln Natural Gas Project is a great example of preventing and reducing waste by creating a renewable energy product,” said Don Rendall, Vermont Gas President and CEO. “A project like this supports Vermont agriculture, reduces net carbon emissions that affect the climate, and provides customers with the renewable energy choice.”
Along with being the primary customer for the LincolnRNG plant, Middlebury College is also a minority investor.
“The college has shown great leadership in the renewable energy field, and has been a crucial development partner for this Project,” said Smith. “The college has assisted IES and LincolnRNG in overcoming the many hurdles that inevitably challenge the development of a new concept such as the LincolnRNG plant.”
“We are very pleased that the Project has advanced to this most important next step,” said Patrick Norton, Vice President and Treasurer for the college. “We believe LincolnRNG has made a compelling case to the Board, and we look forward to our first delivery of renewable natural gas.”
The RNG would be brought to market by underground pipeline that will be built and operated by Vermont Gas Systems Inc. The pipeline will initially supply the College through the “gas island” that Vermont Gas is currently operating in Middlebury. LincolnRNG will also make a direct sale of RNG to Vermont Gas, for marketing by Vermont Gas’ to its other customers.
The LincolnRNG RNG plant will use proven digester and gas upgrade equipment technology. WLETEC BIOPOWER will supply the digester tank system.
“We are pleased to be supplying WELTEC BIOPOWER digester equipment for the LincolnRNG Project, said Elmar Broering, Head of WELTEC BIOPOWER’s Commissioning Team. Our partners, LincolnRNG and Middlebury College, make this an exciting Project and a great opportunity to demonstrate in the United States the potential of the emerging market for renewable natural gas.”
Greenlane Biogas has been selected to supply the biogas upgrading system for the LincolnRNG project. “After having been in operation for more than 20 years and having installed a number of systems for RNG/pipeline projects around the world, it is exciting to see this market open up in North America,” says Brent Jaklin, Managing Director of Greenlane Biogas North America. “How we look at waste has changed. No longer is it just a material to be disposed of, waste can now be used to produce a clean and renewable source of energy.”
Lincoln has asked the Board for expedited review of its petition filing. If the Board authorizes plant construction by August, the plant could be up and running by the end of this year.
Source: LincolnRNG 5.12.2015 http://iesvermont.com