Making Climate Strides: Expanding Access to Biogas Markets with RNG Facility

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

The Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables (W&R) houses a state of the art renewable natural gas (RNG) processing facility that converts their landfill biogas into pipeline quality natural gas (RNG). This RNG produced from landfill biogas is sold as vehicle fuel offsetting greenhouse gas emissions and generating revenue and renewable energy credits for the County. This project has gained national recognition for its addition of an innovative offload station that enhances equity and inclusion around who is able to access renewable energy markets. The RNG offload station allows other bio-gas producers in the area, such as dairy farmers, to access the pipeline and renewable energy markets that would otherwise be impractical to pursue. Since its inception, the RNG facility has generated renewable natural gas equivalent to 4,800,000 gallons of gasoline and over $4 million in net profit that goes back to Dane County’s general funds to support other County services. Regional biogas producers have contributed an additional 2,800,000 gallons of gasoline worth of RNG to the renewable energy market by using the offload station. W&R receives over 950 visitors annually on its public educational tours who come to learn about these innovative operations and how Dane County uses waste as a resource.