Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods Break Ground on Largest Renewable Natural Gas Project in North Carolina
August 16 2019 - 11:48AM
Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods, Inc. are pleased to announce
that the companies are breaking ground on North Carolina’s largest
renewable natural gas (RNG) project through their joint venture,
Align Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)SM. Located in Duplin and Sampson
counties, this project will generate enough energy to power more
than 3,500 homes annually upon completion. Align RNG is a
multi-state joint venture between Dominion Energy and Smithfield
that will capture methane emissions from hog farms and convert them
into RNG to power homes and businesses.
“Breaking ground on this project with Dominion Energy is an
exciting first step in bringing Align RNG to life,” said Kraig
Westerbeek, senior director of Smithfield Renewables and hog
production environmental affairs for Smithfield Foods. “This
project implements proven ‘manure-to-energy’ technology across a
number of farms to produce reliable renewable energy for our
community and contributes to our company’s ambitious goal to reduce
our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25% by 2025.”
As part of this initiative, technology will be installed across
as many as 19 area farms to transform manure into RNG that will be
processed and injected into existing natural gas distribution
systems to serve local homes and businesses. This project is
modeled after the Optima KV project, which captures biogas on five
Smithfield contract farms in North Carolina, and similar projects
on Smithfield farms in Northern Missouri and Utah.
“What we are starting today is truly transformational,” said
Gary Courts, Dominion Energy’s general manager of new gas business
development. “We’re using the power of innovation to make our
energy cleaner and our farms more sustainable than ever before,”
Courts continued. “With renewable natural gas, everyone wins. It’s
good for the environment and our planet. It’s a huge win for the
farmers. And it’s around-the-clock renewable energy for
consumers.”
The 300,000 MMBTU of renewable energy this project is estimated
to produce will play a key role in the state of North Carolina’s
historic initiative to reduce GHG emissions over the next decade
and will help expand the state’s energy portfolio with a reliable
source of renewable energy. The sale of RNG generated by these
projects will also provide family farmers with an additional source
of revenue.
“This project is providing an incredible opportunity to turn one
of our largest cost drivers – manure management – into a new
revenue stream,” said Terry Tate, manager of DM Farms of Rose Hill
and a Smithfield contract grower. “Working with Dominion Energy and
Smithfield on this project was an easy choice. I’m proud to be part
of an initiative that is improving both the viability and
durability of our farms while benefiting the local community with a
renewable energy source.”
“Dominion Energy and Smithfield are supporting the growth of
agriculture in North Carolina, the state’s leading industry,” said
North Carolina Rep. Jimmy Dixon. “This project forecasts an
exciting shift in the role that farmers play by providing
opportunities within the energy sector that expand their
capabilities and improve their bottom line.”
This is the first “manure-to-energy” project to begin
construction under Align RNG since the joint venture was announced
in late 2018. Additional projects are planned in North Carolina,
Utah, and Virginia, and are projected to produce enough energy to
power 14,000 homes and businesses in total. The emissions reduction
associated with these projects equate to planting 7.8 million new
trees or taking 100,000 passenger vehicles off the road.
For more information about Align RNG, visit alignrng.com.
About Dominion Energy Nearly 7.5 million
customers in 18 states energize their homes and businesses with
electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D),
headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed
to sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy and is one of
the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy with
about $100 billion of assets providing electric
generation, transmission and distribution, as well as natural gas
storage, transmission, distribution and import/export services. The
company expects to cut generating fleet carbon dioxide emissions 80
percent by 2050 and reduce methane emissions from its gas assets 50
percent by 2030. Please visit www.DominionEnergy.com to
learn more.
About Smithfield Foods Smithfield Foods is a
$15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork
processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is
also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular
brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan’s Famous®,
Farmland®, Armour®, Farmer John®, Kretschmar®, John Morrell®,
Cook’s®, Gwaltney®, Carando®, Margherita®, Curly’s®, Healthy Ones®,
Morliny®, Krakus®, and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to
providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust
animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental,
and food safety and quality programs. For more information,
visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us
on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn,
and Instagram.
Media Contacts:Aaron RubyDominion Energy (804)
771-3404Aaron.F.Ruby@dominionenergy.com
Lisa MartinSmithfield Foods, Inc.(757)
365-1980lvmartin@smithfield.com
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