Facility will reduce methane emissions and generate enough clean, reliable energy to serve 4,400 homes a year
TECO Peoples Gas, Florida’s largest natural gas distribution utility, celebrated the completion of construction of its renewable natural gas (RNG) facility at Alliance Dairies with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included several elected officials including Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson.
The Alliance RNG facility was built and will be owned and operated by Peoples Gas. Once fully operational in about a month, the facility is expected to produce 105,000 MMBtu of RNG, enough to serve about 4,400 homes annually. It will capture waste from approximately 6,500 cows and clean it to pipeline-quality natural gas that can be safely used by any natural gas appliance or other natural gas application.
“Peoples Gas is proud to be a leader in Florida’s clean energy future and to contribute to our state’s energy diversity,” said Helen Wesley, president and CEO of Peoples Gas. “We are committed to reducing emissions on our own system while helping our customers and partners reduce theirs. And, with this facility, we’re also helping Alliance create a new revenue stream for their business, and that has a positive impact on Florida’s economy and food supply.”
Alliance Dairies is dedicated to using its byproducts in beneficial ways, from recycling water and sand to generating power from methane. “We are firm believers in renewable resources and have long incorporated sustainability into our operations,” said Jan Henderson, CEO of Alliance Dairies. “Peoples Gas is a natural partner to help us continue to make good use of our byproducts, making this RNG facility a big win for both Florida dairy farming and the broader community.”
In 2017, Peoples Gas was the first utility to receive approval from the Florida Public Service Commission to pursue renewable natural gas service in the state, and among the first in the nation. The Alliance RNG project is the next step in advancing clean energy sources like RNG in Florida.
“This partnership is an excellent example of what we can do when we embrace challenges and work together to find market-driven, common-sense solutions. With this project, we’re increasing domestic and renewable energy production, strengthening Florida agriculture and our domestic food supply, and creating economic opportunities for our farmers — all without more government regulation and red tape. Thank you TECO Peoples Gas and Alliance Dairies for your innovative approach to serving the people of Florida,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson.
Renewable natural gas is produced from the organic waste of landfills, water treatment plants or agricultural sites. As the waste decomposes, biogas made up of mostly methane is produced. Through the RNG process, the methane that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere is captured and cleaned. RNG can then be injected into Florida’s pipeline systems and used as a reliable and cost-effective energy source just like traditional natural gas, typically offering customers net-zero or negative emission levels.
Learn more at PeoplesGas.com/RNG.
Peoples Gas System Inc., Florida’s largest natural gas distribution utility, serves nearly 470,000 homes and businesses across the state. The company’s mission is to make life better for communities by delivering safe, resilient, efficient and affordable natural gas energy solutions. Through investments in people, technology, infrastructure and environmentally focused innovations, the company is committed to fueling Florida’s clean energy future responsibly and sustainably. Peoples Gas is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. To learn more about the benefits of natural gas for Florida, visit FloridasEnergy.com. Find more information about the company, its culture, career opportunities and community investments at PeoplesGas.com.
Pictured left to right: Levy County Commissioner John Meeks, Suzanne McGuire (Senator Keith Perry’s office), Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, Alliance Dairies CEO Jan Henderson, Peoples Gas President & CEO Helen Wesley, Representative Bobby Payne, Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum, Gilchrist County Commissioner Darrell Smith, Gilchrist County Commissioner Tommy Langford, and Gilchrist County Commissioner Bill Martin
Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, Peoples Gas President & CEO Helen Wesley, Representative Bobby Payne and Alliance Dairies CEO Jan Henderson tour the new Peoples Gas renewable natural gas facility at Alliance Dairies in Trenton, Florida.
