Novilla RNG said its Bellevue renewable natural gas project in Berkshire, Vermont, has completed two months of successful operations, supplying more than 20,000 MMBtu of energy into the network of Vermont Gas—enough to heat about 1,400 homes, Biomass Magazine reported.
The company said the project has met both operational and environmental targets set when development began three years ago. The Bellevue facility is located at Pleasant Valley Farms, where dairy manure is processed to capture methane and convert it into usable energy.
Mark Hill, co-chief executive officer of Novilla RNG, said the project has performed as planned since coming online. He said the system was designed to capture methane, a greenhouse gas, and turn it into a reliable local energy source. Hill added that the project has supported farm operations, generated local economic activity, and helped extend natural gas service to more communities in Vermont.
At the facility, manure is treated in an anaerobic digester to produce biogas. The gas is then cleaned to meet pipeline standards before being injected into the Vermont Gas’s distribution system for use by homes and businesses. Vermont Gas is expected to purchase nearly all of the project’s output in 2026, with a portion of the gas continuing to be supplied in the years ahead.
Neale Lunderville, president and chief executive officer of Vermont Gas, said the project reflects the company’s focus on sourcing energy locally while supporting Vermont’s farming sector. He said locally produced gas helps reduce the need for imported fuel and provides value to customers, while also strengthening the agricultural economy. Lunderville noted that the project has enabled Vermont Gas to expand service in Franklin County and add new customers.
The company said the environmental benefits are significant. Without a digester, manure is typically stored in lagoons that release methane into the atmosphere. By capturing the gas, the Bellevue project removes emissions equivalent to more than 6,500 cars from the road each year and produces enough energy annually to heat a town roughly the size of Enosburg.
Novilla RNG said the project highlights how farm-based energy systems can reduce emissions while supporting agriculture and local energy needs.
