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DTE Biomass Energy opens first renewable natural gas processing and interstate injection site in Wisconsin

DTE Biomass Energy has opened its first and the state of Wisconsin’s first combined dairy renewable natural gas (RNG) processing and interstate injection facility.

The renewable natural gas dairy processing and injection site, located in Newton, WI, processes raw biogas piped from nearby partner farms into RNG, and also receives RNG trucked in from other dairy farm-based DTE facilities. From here, pipeline-quality RNG is injected directly into the interstate pipeline.

“This injection and RNG processing facility is an important milestone for us,” said Kevin Dobson, vice president of business development, DTE Biomass Energy. “DTE’s dairy RNG production has grown tremendously over the last several months, and now we have a central location and efficient means for continuing the operation and growth of these and other dairy projects.”

DTE began dairy RNG processing operations in the state in the spring of 2019 at Dairy Dreams, LLC, a dairy farm located in Casco, WI. DTE also has partnered with Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, LLC, Maple Leaf Dairy, Inc., and Grotegut Dairy Farm, Inc., and is processing biogas produced from these five farms into RNG at three DTE-owned and operated RNG facilities.

Converting waste manure to RNG is a win-win, both for dairy farms and the local environment. Leaving manure to decompose naturally on farmland releases methane directly into the atmosphere. Capturing this gas instead reduces the farms’ overall greenhouse gas footprint, provides the farms with another revenue stream and helps create a clean, sustainable vehicle fuel that displaces fossil-based gasoline or diesel fuel.

“Nearly 20,000 cows throughout Wisconsin are contributing to these projects,” Dobson notes. “Their waste was once a farmer’s burden, but now it’s a sustainable and clean source of energy,” he goes on to explain.

DTE is currently constructing four more RNG facilities in Wisconsin, partnering with Statz Bros. Inc, Kinnard Farms, and Milk Source at both their Rosendale and New Chester farms. The projects expect to begin processing RNG in early 2020. DTE Biomass will have seven DTE-owned and operated RNG facilities when these projects are complete.

Founded in 1988, DTE Biomass Energy has become a proven leader in the landfill and dairy gas-to-energy industries. It is a part of DTE Power & Industrial – one of DTE Energy’s non-utility business units.