Archaea Energy and Republic Services celebrate first RNG plant in landmark partnership

Rhea-AI Summary

Archaea Energy, a subsidiary of bp (NYSE: BP), and Republic Services (NYSE: RSG) announce the launch of their first renewable natural gas (RNG) plant under the Lightning Renewables joint venture. The new plant, located at Republic's National Serv-All Landfill in Fort Wayne, Indiana, can process up to 6,400 standard cubic feet of landfill gas per minute (scfm), sufficient to heat over 25,000 homes annually. The Fort Wayne facility is part of a targeted 40 landfill gas-to-RNG projects expected to come online in the coming years. The plant employs Archaea Modular Design (AMD), enabling faster builds through standardized modular components. This initiative supports Republic Services' goal to beneficially reuse 50% more biogas by 2030 and contributes to bp's objective of growing to over 50 million mmbtus per year of RNG by 2030.

Positive

• The Fort Wayne RNG plant can process up to 6,400 scfm of landfill gas, enough to heat over 25,000 homes annually.
• The JV aims to bring approximately 40 landfill gas-to-RNG plants online in the coming years, showcasing significant growth potential.
• Archaea Energy's Modular Design allows for faster and more efficient plant construction.
• The project supports Republic Services' goal to beneficially reuse 50% more biogas by 2030.
• bp, through Archaea, enhances its leading position as the largest RNG producer in the U.S.
• The JV aims to support decarbonization goals, contributing to a more sustainable environment.

Negative

• The current announcement is only about the first plant; the success of the remaining 39 plants is still uncertain.
• Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risk and uncertainties, potentially affecting future performance.

• Lightning Renewables joint venture targets bringing approximately 40 landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas plants online in coming years.
• Fort Wayne plant is the largest Archaea Modular Design in Indiana, processing up to 6,400 standard cubic feet of landfill gas per minute (scfm), enough energy to heat more than 25,000 homes, according to the EPA Landfill Gas Energy Benefits calculator.

HOUSTON and PHOENIX and FORT WAYNE, Ind., June 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Archaea Energy, a subsidiary of bp (NYSE: BP), and Republic Services (NYSE: RSG) celebrate the first renewable natural gas (RNG) plant in the companies' Lightning Renewables joint venture (JV). The Archaea Modular Design (AMD) plant at Republic's National Serv-All Landfill in Fort Wayne, Ind., is the first of approximately 40 landfill gas-to-RNG projects targeted by the JV and is scheduled to come online this summer.

"From the start, our focus has been opening plants safely and reliably, and demonstrating progress and growth," Archaea Energy CEO Starlee Sykes said. "Continuing to build momentum with the Lightning Renewables JV, the Fort Wayne plant is just the beginning of our incredible partnership with Republic Services to capture landfill emissions and provide customers with lower-emission, lower-carbon fuel."

"Republic Services is investing in sustainability innovation to provide decarbonization solutions for our customers, and our Lightning Renewables partnership with Archaea Energy is a prime example," said Jon Vander Ark, Republic Services president and chief executive officer. "We're proud to celebrate the first of the approximately 40 RNG projects in the Lightning Renewables portfolio. Together, we're helping create a more sustainable world."  

Traditionally, RNG plants have been custom-built, but AMD allows plants to be built on skids with interchangeable components. Using a standardized modular design leads to faster builds than previous industry standards. The Fort Wayne AMD plant will convert landfill gas, a natural byproduct of the decomposition of waste, collected from Republic Services' landfill into RNG, the use of which can lead to local air quality benefits and an increase and diversity of domestic energy production, according to the US EPA¹.

The Fort Wayne plant, once in operation, is expected to process up to 6,400 scfm into RNG – enough gas to heat more than 25,000 homes annually, according to the EPA's Landfill Gas Energy Benefits Calculator.

With the 2022 acquisition of Archaea, bp is now the largest RNG producer in the US, enhancing its ability to support customers' decarbonization goals and progressing its aim to reduce the average lifecycle carbon intensity of the energy products it sells. The Lightning Renewables JV portfolio supports Archaea's intended growth to greater than 50 million mmbtus per year by 2030.

The Lightning Renewables RNG projects directly support Republic Services' long-term sustainability goal to beneficially reuse 50% more biogas by 2030. The JV's portfolio of projects will bring Republic's total landfill gas-to-energy portfolio to more than 100.

Further information:
US press office, uspress@bp.com

About Archaea Energy

Archaea Energy, a bp-owned company, is the largest RNG producer in the US, with an industry-leading platform and expertise in developing, constructing and operating RNG facilities to capture waste emissions and convert them into low carbon fuel. Additional information is available at bp.com/archaea.

About Republic Services
Republic Services, Inc. is a leader in the environmental services industry. Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, solid waste, special waste, hazardous waste and field services. Republic's industry-leading commitments to advance circularity and support decarbonization are helping deliver on its vision to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world. For more information, please visit RepublicServices.com.

Cautionary statement

In order to utilize the 'safe harbor' provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ‎‎(the 'PSLRA'), bp and Republic Services are providing the following cautionary statement. This press release contains certain forward-‎looking statements – that is, statements related to future, not past events and circumstances – which may relate to the startup of the first RNG plant, the joint venture between Republic Services and bp, expectations about future RNG plants, the processing capacities of these plants‎ and the anticipated growth of Archaea. These statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use ‎of words such as 'will', 'expects', 'is expected to', 'aims', 'should', 'may', 'objective', 'is likely to', 'intends', ‎‎'believes', 'anticipates', 'plans', 'we see' or similar expressions.  These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of bp's and Republic Services' management and are subject to risk and uncertainties.  Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in ‎such statements, depending on a variety of factors including (i) with respect to bp, the risk factors set forth in its most recent Annual ‎Report and Form 20-F under "Risk factors" and in any of its more recent public reports and (ii) with respect to Republic Services, the factors set forth in the reports it files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, particularly under Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors.  Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the expectations will prove to be correct.  Neither bp nor Republic Services undertakes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

bp's most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F and other period filings are available on its website at www.bp.com, ‎or can be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330 or on its website at www.sec.gov.‎

¹ At https://www.epa.gov/lmop/renewable-natural-gas#benefits the EPA states that benefits to RNG include fuel diversity, economic, local air quality and greenhouse gas reduction benefitst. Specifically, it states, "Use of RNG increases and diversifies domestic energy production." and "Replacing traditional diesel or gasoline with RNG can significantly reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, resulting in local air quality benefits."

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SOURCE BP p.l.c.

FAQ

What is the processing capacity of the new RNG plant in Fort Wayne?

The Fort Wayne RNG plant can process up to 6,400 standard cubic feet of landfill gas per minute.

How many homes can the Fort Wayne RNG plant heat annually?

The plant can generate enough energy to heat over 25,000 homes annually.

What is the goal of the Lightning Renewables joint venture between Archaea Energy and Republic Services?

The JV aims to bring approximately 40 landfill gas-to-RNG plants online in the coming years.

What is Archaea Energy's contribution to the RNG plant?

Archaea Energy provides its Modular Design, allowing for faster and more efficient construction of the RNG plants.

What are the long-term sustainability goals of Republic Services?

Republic Services aims to beneficially reuse 50% more biogas by 2030.

How does the new RNG plant support bp’s decarbonization goals?

The plant contributes to bp's aim to grow to over 50 million mmbtus per year of RNG by 2030, supporting decarbonization efforts.