Portland unveils biogas production project to refuel local trucks
Environmental Services’ groundbreaking project will convert waste methane from the city’s sewage treatment process into renewable natural gas. The fuel will be sold in Portland (Oregon) and elsewhere to replace diesel in trucks. The project will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 21,000 tons a year, more than any other single city project to date. It also will generate upwards of $3 million in revenue a year, and replace 1.34 million gallons of dirty diesel with clean biogas, enough to run 154 garbage trucks for a year.
“We are creating a triple-win for the public in terms of revenue, climate action and cleaner air,” said Commissioner Nick Fish. “The renewable natural gas we will produce is truly local and homegrown, a by-product of the waste from every Portland household that we can now repurpose.”
Portland City Council unanimously approved the project, authorizing Environmental Services to build the infrastructure needed to produce biogas at the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant and distribute it through NW Natural’s network. City Council also authorized the construction of a biomethane fueling station at the plant. The $12 million package of construction costs will have a payback period of about four years.
By the end of 2017, the fueling station is scheduled to be finished and used for Environmental Services and other city trucks. By the end of 2018, Environmental Services expects to begin feeding biogas into NW Natural’s network. That fuel will be sold on the renewable energy market via a system of energy credits to Oregon and out-of-state buyers.