Our Renewable Energy, EJ, and Public Wellbeing Project (ReNEW) aims to understand the interaction between renewable energy goals, environmental justice concerns, and community wellbeing in areas with biogas operations across Eastern North Carolina. Our team from RTI International (RTI), Environmental Justice Community Action Network (EJCAN), and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC), received funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) through 2027.
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Why?
There are several reasons why North Carolina is pushing for biogas to become a significant part of their renewable energy portfolio.
- Energy Independence: NC ranks third in biogas potential. The energy that can be captured from biogas could be a small step towards local energy independence.
- Greenhouse Gas Reduction: Biogas production reduces methane, a greenhouse gas..
- Revenue Generation: Capturing and selling GHG reductions (carbon offsets) generates revenue for companies like Align RNG. Biogas sales provide income through carbon offset credits, energy credits, and tax incentives.
- Environmental Compliance: energy credits can be used to prove an is using renewable energy or complying with renewable energy production.
What?
The Align RNG Project transports methane gas from covered hog waste lagoons in Sampson and Duplin counties to a central facility for purification and injection into Piedmont Natural Gas Company's pipeline, providing energy for approximately 4000 homes. Methane is produced by anaerobic bacteria that thrive in oxygen-free environments, breaking down organic waste. Biogas can also be sourced from other biomasses and is used for heat/electricity production or "upgraded" for pipeline injection. Capping hog lagoons can lead to increased ammonia levels and uncovered lagoons continuing to emit methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and other greenhouse gases.
Who?
The Align RNG Project (also known as the Align Renewable Natural Gas project) is a partnership between Smithfield Foods and Dominion Energy.
How?
The N.C. Farm Act of 2021 enables hog farmers to build and operate digesters through a general permit issued by the Environmental Management Commission, reducing the need for individual permits and cutting the review process to 90 days with automatic approval if not decided upon within that timeframe. The NCDEQ has since issued similar permits for swine, cattle, and poultry operations. Align RNG is constructing a second facility in Duplin County, connecting 35 farms, and has projects underway in Virginia, Arizona, and Utah.
Where?
There are two Align RNG Projects proposed in eastern NC. One is located between Turkey, NC (Sampson Co.) along NC Highway 24 and connects 19 hog operations. The other is located near Bowdens, NC (Duplin Co.) and connects 35 hog operations and is slated to complete construction in 2026.
The figure shows where the 30-mile pipeline is placed, and the participating farms involved.
When?
Our work is currently in progress through 2027.