WM celebrated the opening of a new renewable natural gas (RNG) facility in Opelika, Ala. The $50 million WM Salem Renewable Natural Gas Facility is expected to generate approximately 750,000 MMBtu per year of RNG, which can power communities (an equivalent of 15,000 homes) as well as a portion of WM鈥檚 heavy-duty natural gas collection fleet (an equivalent of 500 trucks). By converting landfill gas to renewable natural gas, this facility has the potential to prevent more than 40,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year 鈥� helping drive a more sustainable future.
鈥淲M is proud to expand renewable energy in Alabama and the Mid-South as part of our long-term sustainability strategy,鈥� said Eddie McManus, area vice president, WM Mid-South. 鈥淭his project not only supports the local economy through job creation, but also enhances our ability to capture and convert landfill gas into a lower-emission energy source that can power communities and a portion of our own natural gas fleet. We are grateful to state and local officials and our project collaborators for their commitment in making this project a success.鈥�
The WM Salem Renewable Natural Gas Facility processes landfill gas captured from the WM Salem Landfill as organic material decomposes to create RNG. Today, WM owns or hosts more than 20 RNG facilities at its landfills that convert landfill gas into pipeline-quality RNG. The RNG that WM produces is pushed directly into natural gas pipelines, providing a lower-emission energy source for communities across North America.
WM is a leader in the beneficial use of landfill gas in North America and has been a renewable energy player for nearly 40 years. This facility is part of WM鈥檚 enterprise-wide plans to invest more than $1.6 billion in building 20 new, WM-owned renewable natural gas facilities between 2022 through 2026.