Maas Energy Works Brings New RNG Supply Online in California
A new California dairy RNG hub connects onsite and trucked biomethane to PG&E’s pipeline system, expanding renewable gas supply and supporting statewide methane-reduction goals.
(P&GJ) — Maas Energy Works has commissioned a new renewable natural gas (RNG) interconnection at the Couco Creek Dairy in Turlock, Calif., linking the facility to Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) natural gas system and expanding access to dairy-derived biomethane across the region.
The Couco Creek project introduces a hub-style configuration that gathers RNG from two sources: biomethane produced onsite from livestock waste and RNG trucked in from offsite production facilities. The approach allows multiple dairies to participate in RNG production even without direct pipeline access.
By capturing methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere and upgrading it to pipeline-quality fuel, dairy-based RNG provides emissions reductions while supporting local agricultural operations. California’s dairy sector remains a key contributor to in-state RNG supply.
The facility conditions RNG produced onsite while also receiving trucked-in gas from neighboring Blue Sky Dairy through a dedicated offloading and decompression system. The setup functions as a “virtual pipeline,” enabling additional supply to reach PG&E’s system and increasing overall delivery flexibility.
“This hub represents the next phase of innovation in California’s dairy RNG sector — flexible infrastructure that helps family farms participate in the clean-energy economy,” said Daryl Maas, Founder and CEO of Maas Energy Works. “Couco Creek shows that if we design systems that work for both onsite production and trucked delivery, we unlock more opportunities for dairies and more progress toward the state’s clean-fuel priorities.”
All RNG delivered at the site undergoes PG&E’s gas-quality verification, safety checks and metering prior to injection. At full operation, the facility is expected to inject approximately 350 MMBtu/day of RNG, with capacity available for future expansion as additional dairy digesters qualify for delivery.
The Couco Creek interconnection is PG&E’s eighth RNG injection point, with seven more scheduled by the end of 2027. Since launching its first RNG interconnection in 2021, PG&E has expanded deliveries from more than 50 dairies, along with landfill and food-waste facilities, through its existing network.
“Our collaboration with Maas Energy Works on this innovative interconnection point is an exciting step forward in expanding renewable gas options for our customers and our state,” said Austin Hastings, Vice President, Gas Engineering at PG&E. “Projects like this help us accelerate RNG production, strengthen reliability and move confidently toward PG&E’s 2040 Net-Zero climate goals.”
By upgrading biogas to pipeline quality, the project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 54,000 metric tons of CO₂e per year, equivalent to the annual energy-related emissions of roughly 7,200 U.S. homes.
PG&E completed readiness testing for the injection facilities on Dec. 30, 2025, with trucked RNG deliveries beginning the same day. Onsite RNG production began flowing into the system on Dec. 31 following final gas-quality approval.