Viridi Energy Launches First Company-Operated Renewable Natural Gas Facility in Alabama
- 30-Apr-2025 12:15 AM
- Journalist: Emilia Jackson
Viridi Energy, a prominent renewable natural gas (RNG) platform, has announced the commencement of operations at its inaugural company-operated RNG facility in Summerdale, Baldwin County, Alabama.
The newly established facility, a collaborative effort with the Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County, is situated at the county's Magnolia Landfill. It is designed to capture methane-rich landfill gas and convert it into pipeline-quality RNG.
The facility is projected to produce over 160,000 MMBtu of RNG annually. This output will be supplied through a long-term offtake agreement with ACT Group, a leading environmental commodity trading firm. Beyond the environmental benefits, the project is also poised to generate a consistent revenue stream for Baldwin County through royalties on the gas production.
Dan Crouse, CEO of Viridi Energy, expressed his enthusiasm about this achievement, stating, "This is a defining moment for Viridi Energy. While our team brings extensive experience in the RNG sector, the Baldwin County site represents our first operation under the Viridi name. This project powerfully demonstrates the potential of combining industry expertise, strategic public-private partnerships, and targeted infrastructure investments to transform waste into a valuable resource, ultimately creating lasting benefits for the communities we serve."
Terri Graham, CEO of the Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County, Alabama, highlighted the significance of the project for the county, stating, "This RNG facility represents a major step forward for Baldwin County and its residents. It has the capacity to supply fuel for all natural gas customers in Magnolia Springs, demonstrating a powerful synergy between environmental responsibility and tangible economic benefits for our community. We are delighted to partner with Viridi on this groundbreaking initiative."
Adding another dimension to the project's positive impact, the landfill site now also houses a new 62,000-square-foot materials recovery facility (MRF). This facility will significantly enhance Baldwin County's capacity to recover and recycle valuable materials, further promoting environmental sustainability. Within the MRF is the innovative Waste & Recycling Adventure Center, a 7,000-square-foot interactive learning space. This center is designed to educate students and residents about the importance of waste recovery through engaging, hands-on exhibits. It explores recycling fundamentals and elucidates the process of capturing landfill gas and refining it into RNG, effectively illustrating the principles of a circular economy for the next generation.
While the Baldwin County facility is smaller in scale compared to some of Viridi's other ongoing developments, it serves as a replicable model for community-focused RNG projects. Landfill sites of similar size across North America represent a substantial yet often untapped source of RNG.