Turning waste into renewable energy

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) — Black Hills Energy Renewable Resources and the City of Rapid City are exploring a partnership to turn waste into renewable energy.

At Tuesday’s Public Works meeting, the committee approved a Memorandum of Understanding and a nondisclosure agreement to launch a study into converting landfill and wastewater digester gas into Renewable Natural Gas.

The gas would be processed, injected into the natural gas pipeline, and sold on the renewable energy market.

Black Hills Energy Renewable Resources will fund the evaluation.

Program manager Paul Cammack says the city, which operates a landfill and water reclamation facility, will generate new long-term revenue sources through this project.

“We’ve got a local source of energy that’s not being tapped into, you’ve got a potential revenue source, so that will bring in more revenue, cut costs for the city because they won’t have to operate the well field, we’ll take over that operation so it’s a win-win all the way around,” said Black Hills Energy program manager Paul Cammack.

The items will be moved to the City Council on Monday to get the mayor’s signature on both the Memorandum of Understanding and the nondisclosure agreement.

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