Smithfield Foods, Inc., in partnership with Duke Energy and
OptimaBio, LLC, is now producing renewable natural gas (RNG) from
the wastewater treatment system at its Tar Heel, N.C. pork
processing facility, which will help power more than 2,000 local
homes and businesses. The three companies are utilizing the world’s
largest pork processing facility to provide renewable energy to
consumers while reducing their own, and the state of North
Carolina’s, carbon footprint.
The $14 million project is the latest from Smithfield
Renewables, Smithfield’s platform to unify and accelerate its
efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25% by 2025.
Through partnership with Duke Energy, roughly 140,000 dekatherms of
RNG per year will be transported to natural gas plants and used to
generate electricity for consumers.
"This project brings to life all three of our company’s guiding
principles – Responsibility, Operational Excellence, and
Innovation,” said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief
executive officer for Smithfield Foods. “For the first time, we are
creating renewable energy from the biogas generated in our
wastewater treatment system and using it to power local
communities. With the help of our partners, we are producing
additional value for our company and our neighbors—a concept that
is ingrained in our culture.”
To date, this is one of Smithfield’s largest renewable energy
projects involving wastewater, and its first in North Carolina.
Smithfield also has “wastewater-to-energy” projects at its Milan,
Mo.; Grayson, Ky.; and Sioux Falls, S.D. facilities, which are used
to power their modified steam boilers.
The company’s Tar Heel, N.C., project utilizes a gas upgrading
and injection system operated by OptimaBio, LLC, a bioenergy
project developer, which leverages the facility’s three million
gallon-per-day wastewater treatment system to collect and clean
biogas through an existing on-site digester and convert it into
RNG.
“We are proud to partner with Smithfield on this project, which
has far-reaching and positive impacts for the environment, the
local community, and industries that are key to the state’s
economy,” said Mark Maloney, CEO and Founder at OptimaBio, LLC.
“We’re helping diversify and strengthen North Carolina’s renewable
energy portfolio through this endeavor.”
Once converted, the RNG is injected into the Piedmont Natural
Gas system, and then transported to Duke Energy to produce
electricity. This project will help Duke Energy satisfy state swine
waste-to-energy mandates under the Renewable Energy and Energy
Efficiency Portfolio Standard law in North Carolina. Under this
law, Duke Energy must generate 0.20% of its retail sales from swine
waste by 2024.
“At Duke Energy, we are seeking innovative and cleaner energy
solutions. Buying the output from Smithfield's renewable natural
gas project will allow us to expand our diverse generation mix in
North Carolina," said Stephen De May, Duke Energy's North Carolina
president. “This project is creating safe and affordable energy
that customers can rely on.”
In addition to creating renewable energy at its facilities,
Smithfield is implementing projects on its farms that transform
manure into RNG. These projects capture methane from manure, and
clean and convert it into RNG, which is then injected into local
natural gas distribution systems for homes and businesses. In the
next decade, Smithfield is implementing “manure-to-energy” projects
in at least six states including Arizona, California, Missouri,
North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia.
Whether using biogas to power its facilities or nearby
communities, these programs are part of Smithfield’s robust
sustainability program. To learn more, visit
smithfieldfoods.com/sustainability.
About Smithfield FoodsHeadquartered in
Smithfield, Va., since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American
food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Our 40,000
U.S. employees are dedicated to producing “Good food.
Responsibly.®” and have made us one of the world’s leading
vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered
sustainability standards for more than two decades, including many
industry firsts, such as our ambitious commitment to cut our carbon
impact by 25 percent by 2025. We believe in the power of protein to
end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food
servings to our neighbors in need. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of
high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich®, and
Nathan’s Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit
www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter,
LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About Smithfield RenewablesSmithfield
Renewables is a strategic platform within Smithfield Foods, a $15
billion global food company, and the world's largest hog producer
and pork processor. Smithfield launched this platform in 2017 to
lead, unify, and accelerate the company’s renewable energy efforts
to help meet its industry-leading goal to reduce greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions 25% by 2025—the first commitment of its kind by a
protein company. To achieve this goal, Smithfield has implemented a
wide range of projects across its farms and facilities, including
converting hog manure into renewable natural gas and
commercial-grade fertilizer, streamlining its transportation
network, launching an ambitious solid waste reduction plan,
sourcing sustainably grown feed grain, and implementing operational
efficiency projects. For more information,
visit www.smithfieldfoods.com/renewables.
Duke EnergyDuke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune
150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest
energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and
has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its
regulated utilities and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated
Duke Energy Renewables unit.
Duke Energy is transforming its customers’ experience,
modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and
expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy
future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric
Utilities and Infrastructure unit’s regulated utilities serve
approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states –
North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and
Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes
natural gas to more than 1.6 million customers in five states –
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The
Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation
facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid
projects.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2019 “World’s Most Admired
Companies” list and Forbes’ 2019 “America’s Best Employers” list.
More information about the company is available
at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News
Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and
other materials. Duke Energy’s illumination features
stories about people, innovations, community topics and
environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy
on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
OptimaBioHeadquartered in Raleigh, N.C.,
OptimaBio is a swine waste-to-energy project developer, owner and
operator and the leader in RNG development for North Carolina.
It's a partnership bringing together experts in bioenergy,
agriculture, project finance, and environmental stewardship to
invest in rural communities for the greater
good. pig.energy
Contact Information:Lisa MartinSmithfield
Foods, Inc.(757) 365-1980lvmartin@smithfield.com
Randy WheelessDuke Energy(704)
382-8379Randy.wheeless@duke-energy.com
Mark MaloneyOptimaBio(910) 632-0752mark@pig.energy.com
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