In the United States (US), Vanguard Renewables, a leading environmental services company and producer of biomethane from organic waste, and portfolio company of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, has recently announced its first utility offtake through a new agreement with CenterPoint Energy Inc., a multi-state electric and natural gas delivery company serving approximately 7 million metered customers across Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas.
According to a statement, the agreement marks a key milestone as Vanguard Renewables scales renewable natural gas (RNG) infrastructure to help states like Minnesota (MN) meet their clean energy goals.
CenterPoint Energy will purchase RNG produced at a new anaerobic digestion facility in Litchfield, Meeker County, co-located on a historic dairy and crop farm and integrated into CenterPoint’s existing natural gas infrastructure. The system serves 930,000 customers across Minnesota (MN).
Processing up to 290 tonnes of food and beverage waste daily, the facility will generate approximately 270,000 MMBtu of RNG annually.
The project will create up to 100 construction jobs and 10 permanent operational roles, supporting local economic development and expanding access to regionally produced clean energy.
This agreement with CenterPoint Energy reflects our shared commitment to deploying clean energy solutions that benefit the environment and local communities. It also represents a deeper investment in the Midwest, where we are bringing our circular model to life by harnessing the power of waste to build local infrastructure, support multigenerational farmers, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, said Michael O’Laughlin, CEO at Vanguard Renewables.
Ready to boost RNG deployment
RNG is rapidly emerging as one of the most practical and scalable tools for strengthening US energy independence while transforming waste into a valuable resource.
Vanguard Renewables produces RNG by processing unavoidable food waste from manufacturers and retailers with farm-based organics like manure through anaerobic digestion.
The captured methane is upgraded to pipeline-quality gas, while byproducts are returned to the farm to support regenerative agriculture.
With over a decade of experience and more than a million tonnes of waste diverted from landfills, Vanguard Renewables is uniquely positioned to accelerate the deployment of regionally produced RNG.
The new facility will be Vanguard Renewables’ third in the Midwest, joining an operational site in Eden and another under construction in River Falls, both in Wisconsin (WI).
The company’s national expansion strategy includes a pipeline of more than 30 projects slated for development by 2028.
Aligned with NGIA
This project is part of CenterPoint Energy’s five-year innovation plan, approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) under the state’s Natural Gas Innovation Act (NGIA), which enables natural gas utilities to invest in renewable energy resources and innovative technologies to help reduce Minnesota’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
CenterPoint’s innovation plan includes 17 pilot projects and seven research and development efforts. It is expected to reduce or avoid an estimated 1.1 million tonnes of carbon emissions over the lifetime of the projects.
CenterPoint is committed to helping residential and business customers reduce GHG emissions attributable to their end-use of natural gas by 20-30 percent by 2035 (from a 2021 baseline).
The company’s innovation plan is designed to support customers in reducing emissions from their own energy use.
At CenterPoint Energy, we’re excited to invest in innovative efforts that help lower emissions and advance Minnesota’s energy future, such as Vanguard Renewables’ new anaerobic digestion facility. By adding regionally produced RNG to our distribution system, we can provide our customers with a lower-carbon energy source that continues to deliver the safe, reliable service they expect. We look forward to helping grow the RNG industry, create clean energy from waste, and support our regional economies, said Brad Steber, VP, Minnesota Gas at CenterPoint Energy.
