Brightmark and Chevron Achieve First Gas Milestone with Florida’s Largest Family Dairy

Brightmark RNG Holdings Delivers First Renewable Natural Gas from Larson Project in Florida

SAN FRANCISCO — Brightmark RNG Holdings LLC, a joint venture partnership between Chevron U.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX), and Brightmark Fund Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Brightmark LLC, announces the delivery of the first renewable natural gas (RNG) from its Larson Project in Okeechobee County, Florida. The Larson Project is comprised of four lagoon anaerobic digesters located at Larson Family Farms. This marks the joint venture’s inaugural RNG project in the state and builds on the joint venture’s extensive network of projects across the U.S. to produce dairy RNG for lower carbon intensity transportation fuel.

Environmental Benefits and Sustainable Development Goals

The Larson Project captures methane from cow manure through the process of anaerobic digestion and converts it to renewable natural gas. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG), the second most abundant GHG, and is responsible for roughly 17.3% of global emissions.

The project delivers several environmental benefits, such as:

• Odor mitigation and air quality
• Soil stabilization and nutrient control
• Improvement in the economics of dairy farming
• Reduction in the carbon intensity of agricultural practices

This project aligns with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
3. SDG 15: Life on Land

Collaboration and Market Growth

“This ‘first gas’ milestone with Larson Family Farms is a testament to the power that a circular solution like anaerobic digestion has to dramatically reduce methane emissions and promote economic development in local communities,” remarked Bob Powell, Founder and CEO of Brightmark. “Our collaboration with Chevron and Larson demonstrates the continued growth of the RNG market propelled by the agricultural and food waste industry.”

“We are excited to achieve this milestone in our first joint renewable natural gas project in Florida with Brightmark and a notable farming family,” said Nuray Elci, general manager of renewables in Chevron’s Americas Products business. “These projects support production of affordable and reliable energy and help accelerate lower carbon solutions.”

Impact on GHG Emissions and Water Quality

Brightmark aims to reduce GHG emissions and achieve significant improvements in water quality by adopting economically viable technologies and practices throughout the industry. Brightmark recently reached a substantial company milestone, reducing more than 500,000 tons of CO2eq through its RNG portfolio of nearly 30 projects across 40 farms nationwide. With this project, Brightmark is able to reduce over 57,000 tons CO2eq from being released into the atmosphere every year. That is equivalent to planting over 75,000 acres of forest every year.

Testimonial from Woody Larson

“Our continued partnership with Brightmark demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of this project for it to be sustainable and beneficial to farmers like us,” stated Woody Larson, Founding Rancher, Family Tree Enterprises (owner of Larson Family Farms). “The value of the RNG produced balances the offsets associated with production while maintaining the health of the farm and its animals.”

For more information on Brightmark’s renewable natural gas projects, please visit here.

About Brightmark

Brightmark, LLC is a circular innovation company with a mission to Reimagine Waste, developing solutions that make a positive environmental impact on the world and communities where it operates. Brightmark’s established anaerobic digestion and proprietary plastics renewal technologies make the company a veteran in a burgeoning marketplace. The company works across sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation to decarbonize operations, displace reliance on virgin fossil fuels, and solve circularity challenges at scale.

Committed to systems change in waste, Brightmark works collaboratively to address gaps where traditional methods fall short through its innovative closed-loop approach to recycling and renewables. To date, Brightmark has repurposed more than four million pounds of landfill-bound plastics and reduced more than 500,000 tons of CO2eq from the atmosphere through anaerobic digestion. The company is also deeply committed to conservation, education, and sustainability career training by partnering with local and national organizations that help protect land and oceans. For more information, visit www.brightmark.com.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to these SDGs because they involve the production of renewable natural gas (RNG) from cow manure through anaerobic digestion, which contributes to clean energy production and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. This aligns with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.
• SDG 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
• SDG 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce degradation of natural habitats.

Based on the article’s content, these specific targets can be identified as the project aims to increase the share of renewable energy through the production of RNG, upgrade infrastructure for anaerobic digestion, achieve environmentally sound waste management, integrate climate change measures into agricultural practices, and reduce degradation of natural habitats.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Percentage of renewable energy in the transportation fuel mix
• Number of anaerobic digesters installed
• Amount of methane captured and converted to renewable natural gas
• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (tons of CO2eq)
• Area of land protected or restored

The article mentions the production of RNG from anaerobic digestion, which can be used as an indicator to measure the percentage of renewable energy in the transportation fuel mix. The installation of anaerobic digesters and the amount of methane captured and converted to RNG can also be used as indicators to measure progress towards the targets. Additionally, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (tons of CO2eq) and the area of land protected or restored can be used as indicators to measure the environmental impact of the project.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: waste360.com

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