Nicor Gas Launches Its First Renewable Natural Gas Interconnection with Air Liquide
On January 6, 2025, Nicor Gas proudly celebrated the inauguration of its first renewable natural gas (RNG) interconnection with Air Liquide’s state-of-the-art facility, the largest RNG plant in the world, located in Rockford, Illinois. This groundbreaking event represents a significant stride towards achieving a sustainable energy future for Illinois and reducing carbon emissions across the economy.
The interconnection allows biogas from the adjacent Winnebago Landfill, operated by Waste Connections, Inc., to be converted into renewable natural gas. This process marks Nicor Gas’s inaugural step into a renewable gas delivery framework, which will play a crucial role in the state’s transition to greener energy sources. During the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, notable figures from the company, alongside elected officials and community partners, gathered to commemorate this momentous occasion.
Wendell Dallas, the president and CEO of Nicor Gas, expressed, "This interconnection is a significant step forward for Nicor Gas and Southern Company Gas on the path to a sustainable energy future for Illinois, facilitating economy-wide carbon reductions while enhancing energy security and clean energy growth." The newly established RNG interconnection is part of Nicor Gas’s Renewable Gas Interconnection Pilot Program, which gained approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2021.
The project is expected to yield approximately 1.3 million Metric Million British thermal units (MMBtu) per year, which is equivalent to providing RNG for about 12,000 households each year. This renewable gas is derived from organic waste, emphasizing the program’s environmental benefits. As organic waste decomposes, it generates biogas predominantly composed of methane and carbon dioxide. Instead of releasing this gas into the atmosphere, Air Liquide’s facility captures and purifies it into a pipeline-quality gas, directly substitutable for conventional natural gas.
What sets RNG apart is that it can potentially have a negative carbon intensity over its lifecycle, depending on its feedstock. Nicor Gas’s pipeline infrastructure is vital for reducing emissions, enabling entities to purchase and retire the environmental attributes associated with this project. Additionally, the company is set to retire 13,900 MMbtu annually of environmental attributes related to the project, which directly contributes to diminishing greenhouse gas emissions linked to their operations.
The transition to renewable natural gas is not just about meeting energy demands; it is also about bolstering the local economy and fostering partnerships that aim for sustainability. As municipalities increasingly pivot toward cleaner energy sources, initiatives like the one between Nicor Gas and Air Liquide are essential pathways toward achieving state and national energy goals.
For further detail on Nicor Gas's endeavors in promoting a cleaner energy future, visit their website at https://www.nicorgas.com/sustainability. Nicor Gas serves over 2.3 million customers across Northern Illinois, excluding Chicago, as a part of Southern Company Gas, a prominent energy supplier in the U.S. As we progress toward a more sustainable future, such collaborations will be pivotal in transforming waste into a valuable energy resource, reinforcing the commitment towards eco-friendly practices and conservation efforts.
The interconnection allows biogas from the adjacent Winnebago Landfill, operated by Waste Connections, Inc., to be converted into renewable natural gas. This process marks Nicor Gas’s inaugural step into a renewable gas delivery framework, which will play a crucial role in the state’s transition to greener energy sources. During the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, notable figures from the company, alongside elected officials and community partners, gathered to commemorate this momentous occasion.
Wendell Dallas, the president and CEO of Nicor Gas, expressed, "This interconnection is a significant step forward for Nicor Gas and Southern Company Gas on the path to a sustainable energy future for Illinois, facilitating economy-wide carbon reductions while enhancing energy security and clean energy growth." The newly established RNG interconnection is part of Nicor Gas’s Renewable Gas Interconnection Pilot Program, which gained approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2021.
The project is expected to yield approximately 1.3 million Metric Million British thermal units (MMBtu) per year, which is equivalent to providing RNG for about 12,000 households each year. This renewable gas is derived from organic waste, emphasizing the program’s environmental benefits. As organic waste decomposes, it generates biogas predominantly composed of methane and carbon dioxide. Instead of releasing this gas into the atmosphere, Air Liquide’s facility captures and purifies it into a pipeline-quality gas, directly substitutable for conventional natural gas.
What sets RNG apart is that it can potentially have a negative carbon intensity over its lifecycle, depending on its feedstock. Nicor Gas’s pipeline infrastructure is vital for reducing emissions, enabling entities to purchase and retire the environmental attributes associated with this project. Additionally, the company is set to retire 13,900 MMbtu annually of environmental attributes related to the project, which directly contributes to diminishing greenhouse gas emissions linked to their operations.
The transition to renewable natural gas is not just about meeting energy demands; it is also about bolstering the local economy and fostering partnerships that aim for sustainability. As municipalities increasingly pivot toward cleaner energy sources, initiatives like the one between Nicor Gas and Air Liquide are essential pathways toward achieving state and national energy goals.
For further detail on Nicor Gas's endeavors in promoting a cleaner energy future, visit their website at https://www.nicorgas.com/sustainability. Nicor Gas serves over 2.3 million customers across Northern Illinois, excluding Chicago, as a part of Southern Company Gas, a prominent energy supplier in the U.S. As we progress toward a more sustainable future, such collaborations will be pivotal in transforming waste into a valuable energy resource, reinforcing the commitment towards eco-friendly practices and conservation efforts.
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