Avolta Announces Renewable Natural Gas Projects Completed at Butterfield and Milky Way Dairies
CHARLESTON, W. Va., Buckeye and Maricopa, Ariz. – Avolta today announced the completion of two dairy manure to renewable natural gas (RNG) projects at the Butterfield and Milky Way dairies. The projects have begun injecting RNG into the Southwest Gas pipeline for distribution. Avolta has partnered with U.S. Gain to distribute the RNG as an ultra-low carbon transportation fuel in California and other LCFS states, generating both RINs (under the Renewable Fuel Standard) and LCFS credits (under the California Air Resources Board).
Using anaerobic digestion, dairy manure is converted into biogas, comprised mainly of methane and carbon dioxide, and then upgraded to pipeline-quality natural gas using Nacelle Solutions biogas upgrading equipment. In addition to creating hundreds of construction jobs within the community, these two RNG projects have provided the dairies with optimized waste management solutions, new revenue streams, and significant carbon emission reductions.
“The dairy industry has seen a lot of change since our family started in the 1620s in Holland,” said farm owner Tommy de Jong. In running the dairy, Tommy and his sons have focused on sustainability by growing their own crops and minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers through using the manure nutrient management to reduce their overall carbon footprint.
“We’re confident that these RNG developments along with good stewardship of our local environment will help us to continue to care for our animals and produce high quality milk while decarbonizing our operations,” added de Jong. “This project continues our tradition of sustainability for the generations who follow.”
The Butterfield and Milky Way projects are among the first RNG facilities to qualify for Investment Tax Credits (ITC) under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). By reducing upfront costs for RNG projects to make them cost competitive through an ITC, the projects support the goal of the IRA to accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions in the U.S. by 40% by 2030 and promote a cleaner, more sustainable energy system.
With these RNG projects operational, the dairy farms can achieve measurable results, including:
- Capturing 99% of the methane produced by 60,000 cows
- Delivering over 675,000 MMBTU per year of negative carbon fuel into the California transportation market
- Improving flush water quality
- Reducing carbon emissions equivalent to removing 8,000 cars from the road annually
- Producing enough RNG to power 6,500 homes annually
“We’re committed to helping Butterfield and Milky Way achieve the lowest carbon footprint possible,” says Avolta co-founder Patrick Graney. “Renewable natural gas and recycled water are just the beginning. We’re also in the process of installing solar to offset power usage as the next step in the journey of delivering complex projects that will have a lasting impact.”
For more information, visit https://avoltadevelopment.com/agriculture/.
About Avolta
Avolta is an execution focused developer of renewable natural gas projects that brings a full suite of capabilities to project development including identifying potential development targets, performing financial and operational due diligence, securing gas rights, obtaining off-take agreements for gas and environmental credits, and project financing. Avolta and its partners remain involved throughout the development life-cycle of a project including managing ongoing operations. This approach provides new economic opportunities and reduces the impact on the environment for years to come. Learn more at www.avoltadevelopment.com.
About Nacelle
Nacelle is a leading technology and service company specializing in gas conditioning and advancement of the energy and biogas industries. With a history rooted in solving problems for their customers, one of Nacelle’s great assets is its service background and track record of delivering results. Nacelle provides innovative technology solutions and 24/7/365 operations and service ensuring a high level of performance and success. Since inception, Nacelle has successfully executed 320+ different projects with an average throughput of 2000 scfm (~3 million scf per day) of processed gas. Nacelle designs, builds and installs RNG upgrading equipment and currently operates and maintains several RNG facilities throughout the United States. Nacelle also provides engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services – partnering with developers to ensure the project is designed for ease of operations, built on schedule and within budget. Nacelle is committed to gas conditioning technologies and service that meet the complex and evolving demands of the energy and biogas industries. Learn more at www.nacellesolutions.com.
About U.S. Gain
U.S. Gain is a leader in the development and distribution of alternative fuel and renewable energy. Over the past ten years, we’ve diversified throughout the renewable natural gas supply chain, becoming vertically integrated to provide the cleanest fuel and energy at the best value. We’re developing renewable natural gas at farms, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants to reduce emissions for sustainably driven organizations. Further, we continue to build a platform of alternative fuel solutions that enable the polyfuel future that fleets demand while also offering credit generation services under the RFS, LCFS, and CFP programs. Backed by the strength and size of U.S. Venture, Inc., a leading provider of transportation products and insight driving the world forward, we are committed to finding a better way to succeed by offering unrivaled expertise, tenacity, and character in all we do. To learn more, visit www.usgain.com.