SJI to construct New Jersey RNG facility

Folsom, New Jersey-based South Jersey Industries (SJI), New York-based Captona and RNG Energy Solutions LLC have partnered to construct “one of the largest” food waste-to-renewable natural gas (RNG) projects in the U.S." The Linden Renewable Energy (LRE) project, based in Linden, New Jersey, will convert organic waste into pipeline-quality RNG.

Construction will begin this month, with completion slated for 2026.

“SJI is thrilled to continue its commitment to decarbonization and RNG by investing in the Linden Renewable Energy facility,” SJI President and CEO Mike Renna says. “It’s a triple win for us. It repurposes food waste, generates renewable energy that our customers can benefit from and bolsters our commitment to environmental stewardship. Through this flagship project, we’re actively contributing to a more sustainable, energy-efficient future for both our state and the environment.”

Elizabethtown Gas, one of SJI’s primary utility subsidiaries, will blend the RNG from the project into its existing natural gas distribution system.

The LRE project will accept a range of feedstock, including food waste from industrial, commercial and institutional entities, as well as grease waste from restaurants and other food service establishments.

SJI says the LRE project will convert approximately 1,475 tons of waste to produce up to 3,783 one million British thermal units (MMBtu) of RNG per day, equivalent to 30,200 gallons of gasoline per day. The LRE project includes development and construction of multiple off-site food waste preprocessing and depackaging operations in New York and New Jersey.

“Captona recognizes this marquee investment in this food waste-to-RNG plant in New York City and the New Jersey area as a major milestone in the growth of its energy transition infrastructure portfolio of fuel cell, RNG, solar and storage projects” says Izzet Bensusan, Captona founder and CEO. “This project will greatly contribute to reducing emissions and upcycling food waste.”

Paramus, New Jersey-based Phoenix Power Group will be the engineering, procurement and construction provider for the project. Waste haulers in New York and New Jersey have aligned with the project to provide source-separated waste to comply with their respective state’s organic waste diversion requirements, SJI says.

“The LRE Project will provide a sustainable and competitive waste management service within a 40-mile metro region with over 18 million residents,” says James Potter, president of RNG Energy Solutions. “The same region has implemented aggressive organic waste diversion regulations that need a sustainable anaerobic digestion project solution.”

In October, SJI announced construction on an RNG facility in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. The facility, Atlantic RNG, is expected to be operational by 2025. Project partners include New York-based Opal Fuels and Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey-based Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA).