South Jersey Industries, OPAL Fuels and the Atlantic County Utilities Authority recently announced that construction is underway on a new renewable natural gas production facility that is being developed at ACUA’s solid waste landfill in Egg Harbor Township.
As part of its commitment to provide safe, reliable, affordable energy solutions, South Jersey Gas, an SJI subsidiary, will enter into an interconnection agreement to accept the RNG produced by Atlantic RNG.
“We have been working hard in recent years to enhance our infrastructure to deliver the fuels of the future,” Brent Schomber, president of South Jersey Gas, said. “We are excited to work with ACUA, SJI Renewables and OPAL Fuels as we celebrate a new milestone of adding RNG to our gas supply.”
“The groundbreaking of this renewable natural gas project signifies another milestone in our companies’ collective commitment to a sustainable energy future,” Adam Comora, co-CEO of OPAL Fuels, said. “OPAL Fuels’ decades of experience in renewable energy production underpins our continued focus on our growth strategy of converting biogas resources into operating renewable energy projects. Together with SJI and ACUA, we will help bring more renewable fuel supply online and advance the clean energy transition.”
Atlantic RNG, which is expected to be operational in mid-2025, represents the first collaboration between the companies as part of their previously announced 50/50 joint venture to develop, construct, own and operate RNG facilities.
“We are thrilled to host this groundbreaking energy project at our Environmental Park in Egg Harbor Township,” ACUA President Matthew DeNafo said. “Our vision to efficiently reuse the gas generated at the landfill to power trucks, homes and businesses is now a reality thanks to the leadership and innovation demonstrated by the teams at ACUA, SJI and OPAL Fuels.”
RNG or biomethane is produced from a variety of sustainable biomass sources. Once processed, it is interchangeable as a carbon-neutral substitute for traditional natural gas and can be fed through the existing South Jersey Gas natural gas infrastructure without disturbing the distribution network already in place.