DTE Biomass Energy, a non-regulated subsidiary of DTE Energy, has opened a combined dairy renewable natural gas (RNG) processing and interstate injection facility in Wisconsin.
The facility represents the first of its kind for not only DTE but also the state of Wisconsin, the company says. The RNG dairy processing and injection site, located in Newton, processes raw biogas piped from nearby partner farms into RNG, and it also receives RNG trucked in from other dairy farm-based DTE facilities. From here, pipeline-quality RNG is injected directly into the interstate pipeline.
“This injection and RNG processing facility is an important milestone for us,” comments Kevin Dobson, vice president of business development at DTE Biomass Energy. “DTE’s dairy RNG production has grown tremendously over the last several months, and now we have a central location and efficient means for continuing the operation and growth of these and other dairy projects.”
DTE began dairy RNG processing operations in the state in spring 2019 at Dairy Dreams LLC, a dairy farm in Casco. DTE also has partnered with Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy LLC, Maple Leaf Dairy Inc. and Grotegut Dairy Farm Inc. and is processing biogas produced from these five farms into RNG at three DTE-owned/operated RNG facilities.
“Nearly 20,000 cows throughout Wisconsin are contributing to these projects,” Dobson notes. “Their waste was once a farmer’s burden, but now it’s a sustainable and clean source of energy.”
DTE is currently constructing four more RNG facilities in Wisconsin, partnering with Statz Bros. Inc., Kinnard Farms and Milk Source at both their Rosendale and New Chester farms. The projects are expected to begin processing RNG in early 2020. DTE Biomass will have seven DTE-owned/operated RNG facilities when these projects are complete.
