News Releases
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (September 24, 2018) – Republic Services and energy partners Aria Energy and BP celebrated the commissioning of a landfill gas to renewable natural gas (RNG) project located at the Southeast Oklahoma Landfill, outside of Oklahoma City.
According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculations, this project directly reduces close to 17,000 tons of methane and avoids the equivalent of more than 40,000K tons of carbon dioxide annually. Simply put, this is the equivalent of removing 1,800 passenger vehicles from the road annually.
“We believe in leading by example in everything we do,” said Jay Hochenedel, general manager of Republic Services. “This renewable energy project reflects Republic’s ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and our efforts to make a meaningful and sustainable difference in the communities we serve. Oklahoma is home to considerable natural beauty and we are truly proud to invest in its preservation.”
Aria Energy operates the project at Republic’s landfill by processing and purifying the landfill gas (LFG) into RNG. BP transports the RNG into the interstate natural gas pipeline and makes it commercially available to renewable energy customers.
“BP is excited to take the clean-burning renewable natural gas developed at this new facility and make it available to the transportation fueling sector,” said Sean Reavis, BP senior vice president – global environmental products. “This project is the latest example of BP’s commitment to a lower-carbon energy future, and we look forward to helping make it a success.”
LFG is produced naturally as waste decomposes and consists of roughly 50 percent methane. Landfills above a certain size are required to install a collection system to transport the gas to a collection facility. After collection, the Southeast Oklahoma City facility upgrades the LFG in a beneficial-use energy project. This process displaces the use of fossil fuels, which can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the community.
“We are thrilled to partner with Republic Services and BP on this project.” said Richard DiGia, Aria Energy’s president and chief executive officer. “This project contributes to our ongoing efforts to convert gas generated by municipal waste into clean, useful renewable energy for vehicles, homes and businesses.”
The RNG produced at the Southeast Oklahoma Landfill is used as a fuel for natural gas vehicle fleets, including heavy-duty trucks. Use of this low-carbon fuel results in approximately 70 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions than from equivalent gasoline or diesel fueled vehicles.
To learn more about Republic’s Blue Planet® sustainability platform or to download the latest Sustainability Report, visit: http://www.RepublicServices.com/Sustainability.
About Republic Services
Republic Services, Inc. is an industry leader in U.S. recycling and non-hazardous solid waste disposal. Through its subsidiaries, Republic's collection companies, recycling centers, transfer stations and landfills focus on providing effective solutions to make responsive waste disposal effortless for its 14 million customers. We'll handle it from here.®, the brand's promise, lets customers know they can count on Republic to provide a superior experience while fostering a sustainable Blue Planet for future generations to enjoy a cleaner, safer and healthier world.
For more information, visit the Republic Services website at RepublicServices.com. “Like” Republic on Facebook at Facebook.com/RepublicServices, follow on Twitter @RepublicService and connect on Instagram.
About Aria Energy
Headquartered in Novi, MI with offices in Oakfield, NY; Frederick, CO and Gilbert, AZ, Aria Energy provides baseload renewable energy to utilities and other customers across the United States. Aria Energy owns and/or operates a diversified portfolio of 42 renewable energy projects across 16 states, collectively representing collectively representing 223 MW of electric capacity and 19,980 MMBtu/day of renewable natural gas. For additional information, visit http://www.ariaenergy.com/.
About BP
BP is a global producer of oil and gas with operations in over 70 countries. BP has a larger economic footprint in the U.S. than in any other nation, and it has invested more than $100 billion here since 2005. BP employs about 14,000 people across the U.S. and supports more than 106,000 additional jobs through all its business activities. For more information on BP in America, visit www.bp.com/us.