Ontario Energy Board approves landfill RNG project in Chatham-Kent, Ont.

The first Enbridge Gas renewable natural gas (RNG) project to undergo the Ontario Energy Board regulatory process has now received approval. The company announced last week it was granted leave to construct the Ridge Landfill RNG Project in Chatham-Kent, Ont., representing a major milestone on the path to net zero.

Pending the receipt of required permits, a new RNG facility will be constructed by Waste Connections of Canada at the Ridge Landfill site near the community of Blenheim. The facility will upgrade the landfill gas to low-carbon RNG at a quality suitable for introduction into the Enbridge Gas natural gas network.

A new injection station and 5.7-km pipeline will also be constructed by Enbridge Gas. The RNG will be safely transported from the landfill site through the pipeline and introduced into the natural gas distribution system at an existing Enbridge Gas station on Communication Road.

“Net zero is possible, and we continue to demonstrate this with today’s exciting news,” said Jim Redford, vice-president of energy services, gas distribution and storage, for Enbridge Gas. “Leveraging the existing gas system to deliver increasing levels of green fuel content, including renewable natural gas, is just one example of the steps we’re taking to support the transition to a low-carbon future.”

The project includes an investment of more than $70 million into Chatham-Kent. Approximately 110,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year will be offset, which is equivalent to taking almost 24,000 passenger vehicles off the road. An estimated 50 development and construction jobs and several highly skilled permanent operational jobs are also expected.

With the pipeline portion of the project approved, construction on the pipeline and its related facilities is scheduled to begin in July 2023. Construction activities at the Ridge Landfill site are expected to begin in August 2023, and the project is anticipated to be in-service by the end of 2024.

“As we move towards a greener future, Chatham-Kent is committed to supporting investments such as this that take a leading role in furthering our committed push to net-zero,” said Municipality of Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff. “This innovative project is excellent for both Chatham-Kent and our future generations, who rely on the sustainable choices we make today. We’re thankful to Enbridge and Waste Connections of Canada for investing today for a greener tomorrow.”