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South Platte Renew reports RNG revenue stream, pilot projects to tackle PFAS and boost methane recovery
Summary
South Platte Renew staff told the committee the facility’s renewable natural gas (RNG) system—operating since late 2019—has paid off its initial $7.8 million capital investment and is producing net revenue through RIN markets; staff highlighted ongoing innovations including methanation trials and a Park Solid Site pilot to address PFAS in biosolids.
Casey Allard and South Platte Renew (SPR) staff presented a status update on regional wastewater operations, revenue from renewable natural gas (RNG) and a program of technology pilots to address emerging regulatory and processing challenges.
Allard said SPR is a regional wastewater partnership administered by Englewood that serves Englewood, Littleton and about 19 connector districts (rough service-area population in excess of 220,000). She said the RNG system came online in late 2019 with a capital investment of about $7.8 million and that SPR repaid that investment in July of last year; RNG revenues now offset customer rates.
Staff explained revenues principally derive from renewable identification number (RIN) markets that assign value to pipeline‑grade renewable natural gas and from commodity sales; SPR cleans gas to pipeline standard which, combined with a favorable proximity to a transmission main, improved project economics. SPR leaders noted that if RIN pricing fell they could instead displace on‑site energy costs (heat digesters or offset electricity), providing a partial hedge.
SPR described a Park Solid Site pilot program to test technologies (including carbon sequestration and advanced solids-treatment options) intended to reduce risk around PFAS/‘forever chemical’ restrictions on land application of biosolids; staff stressed Colorado remains supportive of biosolids reuse but noted other states have banned it. SPR also described promising methanation research that converts CO2 into methane to increase recoverable RNG and could materially raise revenue if successful.
The committee asked about revenue variability and expense drivers; staff said revenue steps when brokers sell gas into markets and that capital expenses for occasional equipment maintenance (iron scrubbers, filter replacements) cause variability in annual operating costs. SPR committed to continuing to refine forecasting and to provide updates as pilot results and regulatory developments mature.
The committee did not take formal votes on SPR matters.
