Viridi Energy Acquires Maine Digester Facility for Industry-Leading Biosolids-to-RNG Project - Seite 2

With Maine laws now prohibiting the practice of land-applying biosolids digestate in agricultural settings because of PFAS concerns, wastewater treatment facilities are facing the choice between two less sustainable alternatives: trucking the material long distances or landfilling it, where it requires stabilization and takes up large volumes of space – a strategy that is especially problematic in landfill-constrained Maine.

The anaerobic digestion solution offered at Viridi's Brunswick facility is expected to reduce the volume of the biosolids by nearly 90 percent, from 85,000 wet tons down to 10,000 tons once the material has been digested and dried. Once processed, Casella will transport this more stable, post-process digestate to landfill in a form that preserves landfill capacity, lessens the need for stabilization material, and reduces transportation distances.

“Our agreement with Viridi represents a major step toward finding a sustainable solution for Maine’s biosolids,” said John W. Casella, Chairman & CEO of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. “The need for efficient, responsible biosolids treatment and disposal solutions has never been more pressing. We are pleased to be working with Viridi to provide a comprehensive approach for managing this waste stream in a safe, sustainable, and beneficial way.”

With the development of this relationship, Viridi and Casella are providing a sustainable pathway for Maine municipalities to reduce uncertainties in managing their biosolids. Viridi is currently conducting siting, permitting, and environmental due diligence at the Brunswick site. Retrofit construction of the Brunswick facility is expected to be complete by the second half of 2025, with full operations slated to commence in 2026.

Viridi’s Brunswick acquisition marks the firm’s fourth high-profile deal announcement in the last year. In March 2023, Viridi announced its partnership with Marathon County, Wisconsin, to convert the county’s landfill emissions into clean RNG, equal to more than three million gallons of gasoline annually. In May 2023, the firm announced a partnership with Baldwin County, Alabama, to develop a waste-to-RNG project at that county’s landfill, and in June 2023, it announced it was partnering with American Organic Energy to develop one of the largest food waste-to-RNG projects in the United States.