Illinois RNG Facility Comes Online at Upper Rock Landfill
Ameresco and Republic Services have brought an Illinois landfill gas facility online, converting landfill gas into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas for transportation and energy use.
(P&GJ) — Ameresco and Republic Services have placed a renewable natural gas (RNG) facility into operation at the Upper Rock Island County Landfill in East Moline, Illinois, converting landfill gas into pipeline-quality fuel.
The facility, which began operations in December, is designed to process 2,000 standard cubic feet per minute of landfill gas and produce more than 500,000 dekatherms of RNG annually, according to the companies. The 5.2-MWe project upgrades raw landfill gas into pipeline-quality RNG for use as a low-carbon transportation fuel and other applications.
Ameresco owns the facility, which is the latest RNG project developed in partnership with Republic Services. The companies said the project is expected to reduce more than 27,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions each year, supporting decarbonization efforts while improving air quality.
“The conversion of organic waste into renewable energy serves as a cornerstone of the circular economy,” said Michael Bakas, President of Renewable Fuels at Ameresco. “The Upper Rock project adds another high-quality RNG facility to our portfolio and demonstrates the scalable model we’ve built organically in partnership with Republic Services. This project will displace fossil fuels, cut local emissions, and deliver meaningful benefits for our partners and the communities they serve.”
The Upper Rock project is the 16th RNG facility developed jointly by Ameresco and Republic Services and follows the announcement of another Illinois RNG project in mid-2025. The facility also aligns with Illinois’ clean energy targets and Republic Services’ goal to increase beneficial reuse of biogas by 2030.
“Republic Services is committed to driving sustainability through innovative decarbonization solutions that create meaningful benefits for the communities we serve,” said Tim Oudman, Senior Vice President of Sustainability Innovation. “The Upper Rock project represents another milestone in our longstanding partnership with Ameresco and underscores our shared commitment to building a more sustainable future.”