$5 million grant to help Anaergia build in Michigan

Kent County Bioenergy Facility, a subsidiary of Anaergia Inc., has been awarded a US$5 million grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission.

The facility is being built in partnership with the Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW). The project is designed to increase recycling, reduce Kent County’s dependence on landfills, create jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and produce carbon-negative renewable fuel.

The total cost to implement the overall project is currently estimated to be approximately US$380 million.

Michigan’s Low Carbon Energy Infrastructure Enhancement and Development grants are given to projects that develop low carbon energy infrastructure and help move the state toward carbon neutrality.

Kent County Bioenergy Facility is designed to help Kent County reach the ambitious goal of diverting 90% of trash from the local landfill by 2030. The facility is expected to initially divert over 50% of municipal solid waste while reducing methane emissions by recovering organic material in the waste and converting it into renewable natural gas and fertilizer. Non-degradable recyclable materials otherwise destined for a landfill would also be reclaimed.

“Over 40% of what is landfilled in the U.S. creates methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is responsible for at least 30% of global warming to date—so projects like the one being developed by Kent County Bioenergy Facility will do no less than help save the planet,” said Brett Hodson, CEO of Anaergia.

“We are grateful that the Michigan Public Service Commission has provided these funds to help make this project happen, and we commend Kent County DPW for leading the way and serving as a scalable model for counties around the country to follow.”

The Kent County DPW anticipates requesting approval from the Kent County Board of Public Works to move forward with the Kent County Bioenergy Facility project in July. The project would then go to the full Kent County Board of Commissioners for review and approval. If approved, the Kent County Bioenergy Facility project could be fully operational by early 2027.

The Kent County Department of Public Works provides municipal solid waste disposal services to ensure the effective removal, storage, and disposal of residential and commercial solid waste through various facilities and programs, including Waste-to-Energy, Recycling and Education Center, North Kent Transfer Station and South Kent Landfill.