A $50 million milestone in sustainable energy development was celebrated Thursday with the grand opening of the WM (formerly Waste Management) renewable natural gas facility at the Temple landfill.
Leaders from WM, city and county officials, and other local influencers attended the opening of the state-of-the-art facility, which began RNG production in late December.
WM celebrated the grand opening of a renewable natural gas facility at the Temple landfill. Officials from WM, the city of Temple, Bell County and the media attended the event and were given tours of the new facility.
Jon Humphries/Telegram
Collaboration on the project began 36 months ago between WM and the city to build the facility, the first of its kind in Central Texas.
WM Area Vice President for Texas Domenica Farmer said the new facility will transform waste management practices for the community while contributing to more sustainable energy solutions and economic growth in the region.
“I’m thrilled to be here to celebrate our investment in renewable energy here in the state of Texas, specifically in Central Texas, specifically in the city of Temple,” Farmer said. “We’re not only celebrating the hard work and the culmination of a very important project, we’re also taking another step toward a more sustainable future here in Texas, specifically here in Temple.”
WM celebrated the grand opening of a renewable natural gas facility at the Temple landfill. Officials from WM, the city of Temple, Bell County and the media attended the event and were given tours of the new facility.
Jon Humphries/Telegram
RNG facilities, like the one in Temple, are designed to capture naturally occurring methane emissions produced from decomposing organic matter in the landfill.
Through the capture and compression process, the methane is converted into a clean, renewable energy source. Methane is often released into the atmosphere when organic waste breaks down in landfills.
By harnessing this natural gas, the facility aims to reduce environmental impact while providing a sustainable solution.
“The methane gas is collected, compressed, cleaned and then it’s put into a pipeline. This process creates renewable natural gas which can be used to power 650 vehicles per day, for instance,” Farmer explained.
Uses for RNG products don’t stop there as it can also be used for heating, cooking and electric power.
The Temple facility represents a significant investment in the community and will be capable of producing 750,000 MMBtus annually. The RNG will be injected into the existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure, allowing it to be distributed for a variety of green energy uses.
Facilities like the one in Temple are attributed with reducing the carbon footprint of natural gas consumption in regions where they operate.
“We’re proud to contribute to a more sustainable future for the Temple community and beyond, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration,” Farmer concluded.
Temple Mayor pro tem Jessica Walker expressed pride in the community’s commitment to sustainability and the importance of the facility.
Temple Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Walker addressed community leaders and WM officials during the opening of the renewable natural gas facility at the Temple landfill.
Jon Humphries/Telegram
“Today is a great day for Temple; not just for our city, but for our economy, for our environment and for our future,” Walker said. “We now stand at the forefront of innovation with the launch of the renewable natural gas facility right here in the Temple landfill.”
Walker said that even though the landfill is owned by the city, WM is responsible for its operation. Through the development of the RNG facility, the landfill may now be known for creating clean, sustainable energy, and not just for disposal.
As part of the grand opening festivities, attendees were invited to tour the facility and learn more about the technology behind RNG production. The tours, provided by WM facility staff persons, highlighted the processes involved in capturing and refining methane gas, as well as the benefits of RNG compared to traditional fuels.
WM Area Vice President for Texas Domenica Farmer and city of Temple Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Walker shared ribbon cutting duties at the RNG facility grand opening. The state-of-the-art facility represents a $50 million WM investment in the community.
Jon Humphries/Telegram
The new facility aligns with broader trends in renewable energy being adopted across the United States. Farmer added that as one of 16 WM vice presidents, there will be six RNG facilities under her direction. Farmer is overseeing the opening of facilities near Dallas, San Antonio and Houston.
WM plans to open 20 RNG facilities within 24 to 36 months. Where other cities and regions are increasingly seeking innovative solutions to sustained clean energy production, Temple is now an early producer of RNG in the state.
