Brightmark, Chevron joint venture launches 5 anaerobic digestion projects

Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, has announced five new anaerobic digestion dairy farm projects in western Michigan.

Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC is a joint venture between Chevron U.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corp., and Brightmark Fund Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Brightmark LLC. The Chevron-Brightmark renewable natural gas (RNG) joint venture operates a nationwide system of RNG joint venture projects.

Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC tells Waste Today that it aims to capture methane from waste (specifically in this case dairy manure) and turn it into fertilizer and renewable natural gas (RNG). The company also aims for these renewable products to create a revenue stream with positive economic impact for farmers while also creating jobs in the local community.

Brightmark hosted a launch event for the five Michigan projects May 31 at Den Dulk Dairy Farm in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“We’re excited to work with our partner Chevron and farmers in Michigan to progress the development of our RNG projects, which are designed to drive both lower carbon intensity outcomes for organic waste and investments in local farmers and their surrounding communities supporting lower carbon solutions,” says Bob Powell, founder and chief executive officer of Brightmark LLC. “We are growing our network of strategic relationships with farmers across the country in order to advance the reduction of the agricultural industry’s carbon intensity by seeking renewable fuels from new sources and considering circularity challenges at increasing scale.”

Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC tells Waste Today that it decided to launch these five projects in western Michigan due to the large concentration of dairy farms in that region.

The Castor Project, one of the five anaerobic digestion dairy farm projects in western Michigan, processes manure from one large digester and marks the joint venture’s second-largest RNG project. That project is taking place at three western Michigan farms, including Apple Gate Farm in Ravenna, Michigan; River Ridge Farm in Coopersville, Michigan; and Ottowa Farms in Coopersville.

Other Michigan projects in the joint venture include projects at Meadow Rock Dairy in Greenville, Michigan; Red Arrow Dairy Farm in Hartford, Michigan; SunRyz Dairy Farm in Morenci, Michigan; and Willow Point Dairy Farm in Orleans, Michigan. Including these Michigan projects, the Chevron-Brightmark RNG joint venture has a total of 20 RNG projects across the country.

“Transitioning to a lower carbon future is dependent, in part, on ambitious innovations and pragmatic solutions,” says Andy Walz, president of Chevron Americas Products. “Launching these anaerobic digestion projects with Brightmark can help us develop new solutions for transportation, industry and customers who rely on our products.”

According to Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC, net reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from manure processed at the anaerobic digestion dairy farm projects in Michigan equates to planting more than 179,000 acres of forest each year. The company says these projects are expected to reduce land application of raw manure and improve odor, water quality and nutrient management practices at farms as well.

“We have always strived to be stewards to our land, community and industry. Brightmark is our valued partner in our efforts to advance a lower carbon energy business,” says Greg Stahl, lead farmer of The Castor Project. “We look forward to working with Brightmark and Chevron on these renewable natural gas projects in our shared pursuit to create value from underutilized resources.”