Vanguard Renewables recently broke ground on a new renewable natural gas project at The Moyer Family’s Oakmulgee Dairy Farm in Amelia Court House, VA. This historic farm, owned by fourth-generation dairyman Larkin Moyer and his sons, Brandon and Jeremy, is the oldest continuously operating family dairy in Virginia.
Vanguard Renewables is a major player in turning organic waste into renewable natural gas, according to a company press release. They currently operate seven facilities across the U.S., with three more under construction and plan to expand even further by the end of the year. According to the company, the new Farm Powered anaerobic digester at Oakmulgee Dairy Farm will generate over 259,000 MMBtu of renewable gas each year, while also diverting over 105,000 tons of food and beverage waste away from landfills or incineration.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Moyer Family who are truly building the farm of the future, to bring this transformative technology to life,” said Neil H. Smith, Chief Executive Officer, Vanguard Renewables. “By converting inedible and unsalable food and beverage waste and dairy cow manure into renewable gas, we are not only reducing greenhouse gas emissions and repurposing methane for good, but also creating a sustainable energy source that benefits both the environment and local communities.”
According to Vanguard Renewables, the renewable natural gas produced at this site in Virginia will go on to fuel AstraZeneca’s Maryland biopharmaceutical production facilities.
“We are pleased with Vanguard Renewables’ strong growth momentum and continued expansion throughout the United States, including this latest renewable natural gas project formed through the company’s joint venture with TotalEnergies,” said Doug Vaccari, Managing Director, Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock.
Vanguard Renewables will build and run the project, which is part of a new partnership between Vanguard Renewables and TotalEnergies. Together, they plan to develop Farm Powered renewable natural gas projects on farms across the U.S., bringing more sustainable energy options to dairy operations nationwide.
“We have not shied away from the advances made in the dairy industry, and today is proof of my family’s commitment to a greener future,” stated Larkin Moyer, Owner, Oakmulgee Dairy Farm. “We have embraced innovation as key to preserving our family farm. In addition to our partnership with Vanguard Renewables, we have a ground mount solar array that powers all our farms electrical needs - from robotic milkers to heating and cooling our barns - to further reduce our own carbon footprint. We are also proud members of Dairy Farmers of America, the largest dairy cooperative in the United States.”
AstraZeneca has partnered with Vanguard Renewables to support the production of renewable gas at Farm Powered sites, which will help reduce their carbon footprint in the U.S. Beyond buying the renewable gas for their manufacturing needs, AstraZeneca will use their global manufacturing and digital expertise to increase renewable gas output at Vanguard’s sites.
“At AstraZeneca, we know that using clean energy to produce our medicines is essential for lowering our environmental impact,” said Liz Chatwin, VP of Global Sustainability at AstraZeneca. “Our partnership with Vanguard Renewables shows our commitment to sustainable practices and the move towards net-zero healthcare.”
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