Plans to turn garbage into green energy in Chatham-Kent are taking another step forward.
In April, 2022, Waste Connections Canada and Enbridge Gas proposed building a $50-million renewable natural gas facility at the Ridge Landfill. The facility would capture methane gas from decomposing waste and transform it into low-carbon renewable gas.
The RNG proposal has now received regulatory approval from the Ontario Energy Board. The facility is expected to generate enough green energy to heat over 18,000 homes every year, or about 40% of the homes in Chatham-Kent.
“Net zero is possible, and we continue to demonstrate this with today’s exciting news,” said Enbridge Gas VP of Energy Services, Gas Distribution, and Storage, Jim Redford in a news release. “Leveraging the existing gas system to deliver increasing levels of green fuel content, including renewable natural gas, is just one example of the steps we’re taking to support the transition to a low-carbon future.”
“Our commitment to sustainability, through significant investment in facilities like this, enables Waste Connections to provide consumers with a reliable source of renewable natural gas,” added Dan Pio, President of Waste Connections of Canada. “Waste Connections has ten of these facilities at our landfills, including one of the largest in North America.”
A new injection station and 5.7 km pipeline will also be constructed by Enbridge Gas, allowing the renewable natural gas to be safely transported from the landfill and introduced into the natural gas distribution system at an existing Enbridge Gas compressor station on Communication Road.
Pending the required permits, construction on the pipeline and its related facilities is scheduled to begin this month. Construction activities at the Ridge Landfill site should begin in August with the facility expected to be up and running by the end of 2024.
“As we move towards a greener future, Chatham-Kent is committed to supporting investments such as this that take a leading role in furthering our committed push to net-zero,” Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff said. “This innovative project is excellent for both Chatham-Kent and our future generations, who rely on the sustainable choices we make today. We’re thankful to Enbridge and Waste Connections of Canada for investing today for a greener tomorrow.”