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A new partnership between Southeastern Public Service Authority and Terravera Renewables was celebrated with the completion of its new renewable gas facility on Wednesday, Oct. 18. 

The new facility will collect raw landfill methane gas by converting it into RNG, which will be distributed to customers by pipeline as a replacement for natural gas. 

SPSA Board of Directors Chairman Dr. Dale E. Baugh talked more about the facility during his speech.

“This facility represents a $20 million investment that will convert naturally occurring landfill gas into renewable natural gas or RNG. This project will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, reduce landfill gas emissions while also providing revenue to offset the operational costs to landfill operations,” Baugh said. “We thank Terreva Renewables for the collaboration on this project and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership that will continue to focus on improving the environmental performance of the regional landfill.”

SPSA Executive Director Dennis L. Bagley called the opening of the SPSA Regional Landfill RNG Facility an “exciting day” for both SPSA and Terreva.

“We appreciate the substantial investment that has been made by Terreva Renewables to construct this RNG facility. Over the past three years, we’ve worked with a dedicated team of professionals at Terreva Renewables to forge a positive partnership,” Bagley said. “The collection and processing of landfill gas will turn what has been a byproduct of landfill waste into a long term renewable resource. This process will aid us in achieving our operational goals of reducing greenhouse gasses associated with solid waste operations. In addition to the mini-environmental benefits of the project, the percentage of the revenue from the RNG sales will be paid to SPSA each month.”

During his speech, Terreva Renewables Vice President Richard Crowther thanked SPSA while providing more details on the RNG facility.

“We started making RNG in August. So we’re already producing, and this plant can operate 20 plus years, as close to 24 hours, 7 days a week as we can possibly do it … Most of the RNG produced here will be used as compressed natural gas and vehicles all over the country … the carbon impact of this project will be felt everywhere,” Crowther said. “We look forward to this partnership continuing, and we’re here for the long haul, and we appreciate the partnership with the community as well as SPSA.”

Following the ceremony, SPSA Director of Administration Tressa Preston talked about how thrilled she was about the collaboration. 

“It’s a great partnership between Terreva and SPSA. It’s a great win for the region and for the people of Southeastern Virginia,” Preston said. “We’re taking a byproduct and turning it into something that is useful. And we’re thrilled to have this environmental win.”

Preston says that the RNG facility provides Suffolk with cutting-edge environmental technology while improving air quality and financial benefits. On what Preston hopes Suffolk residents will take away from this new addition to the city?

“I hope that they’re excited that we’re moving forward in a progressive way and that it’s something that they can be proud of in their community,” she said.