Brightmark RNG delivers gas at 10 Midwest projects

Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC, a San Francisco-based renewable natural gas joint venture, has delivered first gas at 10 renewable natural gas (RNG) projects across the Midwest.

Brightmark RNG Holdings 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. Brightmark owns and operates 15 RNG projects in the Midwest, a region that generates nearly 43 percent of the nation's agricultural products.

"We're extremely excited to see these projects come online and begin reducing methane emissions while driving economic development in local communities," Brightmark founder and CEO Bob Powell says. "This milestone demonstrates the scalability of these solutions and determination from farmers to reduce methane emissions in one of the nation's largest agricultural regions."

RELATED: Brightmark, Chevron joint venture launches 5 anaerobic digestion projects

Brightmark's process for reducing methane emissions involves collaborating with farmers to produce RNG through anaerobic digestion. This process collects organic waste, digests it to extract methane and upgrades it into RNG for use as transportation fuel.

"Delivering first gas at 10 farms is a significant milestone," says Nuray Elci, vice president of renewables at Chevron. "Transitioning to a lower carbon intensity energy economy demands, among other things, ambitious goals, innovation and practical solutions. This success highlights renewable natural gas' potential and fosters new opportunities for transport, industry and consumers."

This milestone makes Brightmark one of the leading dairy RNG providers in the United States, according to the company. To date, Brightmark has reduced emissions by more than 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent through its RNG circularity centers, equivalent to the amount of carbon sequestered by planting and growing nearly 20 million trees for 10 years.

"Implementing anaerobic digestion at our farm is not only environmentally sound but also economically beneficial," says Lynn Boadwine of Boadwine Dairy Inc. of Baltic, South Dakota. "Additional revenue generated from the RNG we produce provides a viable and economic solution to address recurring waste and makes the transition toward a lower carbon intensity agriculture more attainable. It's a win-win."