Raleigh, N.C. introduces their bioenergy recovery project, which powers buses with renewable natural gas from wastewater. Raleigh is the first city in North Carolina and one of very few nationwide to initiate a program like this.
The process utilizes byproducts from the Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility, which is the City of Raleigh’s main wastewater treatment plant. The Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility treats up to 50 million gallons of wastewater daily. By using an advanced anaerobic digestion process the plant reduces the amount of biosolids produced but increases the biogas. Then this biogas is converted to a renewable natural gas and delivered to a nearby natural gas pipeline. This new source is then allocated to the city’s Go Raleigh bus fleet or can be sold to a third party for revenue. The bioenergy program is projected to produce enough fuel to run more than 70 City buses per day. This project was a collaboration between Raleigh Water, GoRaleigh and the Office of Sustainability. It marks an innovative step forward in fueling the future in a renewable and green way.
“This project proves that we don’t have to choose between protecting our planet and operating efficiently,” said Raleigh Water Director Whit Wheeler. “We’re taking something that used to be waste and turning it into clean energy that will fuel our city for years to come.”
