Ameresco and Republic Services have launched their 15th renewable natural gas (RNG) facility at the Lee County Landfill in Dixon, Illinois, converting landfill gas into pipeline-quality RNG and significantly reducing carbon emissions. This 11.7 MWe facility will process 4,500 scfm of landfill gas annually into nearly 1.2M dekatherms of renewable energy.
A significant stride towards a sustainable energy future was announced today as Ameresco, Inc, a leading energy solutions provider, and Republic Services, a prominent environmental services industry leader, officially brought their latest renewable natural gas (RNG) facility online at the Lee County Landfill in Dixon, Illinois. This monumental achievement marks the 15th successful collaboration between the two companies in developing renewable energy facilities, with numerous more projects currently in various stages of development.
The 11.7 MWe facility, wholly owned by Ameresco, commenced commercial operation at the end of June 2025, successfully injecting pipeline-quality RNG into a natural gas transmission pipeline. This state-of-the-art facility is engineered to process an impressive 4,500 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) of raw landfill gas. This process transforms what was once flared gas—a potent greenhouse gas—into a valuable, low-carbon transportation fuel, directly displacing the use of fossil fuels and contributing to a circular economy.
The environmental impact of this new facility is substantial. Projections indicate a remarkable reduction of over 61,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. To put this into perspective, this reduction is equivalent to eliminating emissions from over 70 million gallons of gasoline consumption or approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil. Such a significant decrease underscores the facility's pivotal role in mitigating climate change and advancing environmental sustainability by converting waste into clean, renewable energy.
Tim Oudman, Republic Services' Senior Vice President of Sustainability Innovations, emphasized the company's unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship. "The Lee County RNG plant exemplifies our commitment to investing in sustainability innovation that provides impactful decarbonization solutions to the communities we serve," said Oudman. He further highlighted the enduring partnership, stating, "Our long-standing partnership with Ameresco continues to result in projects that are helping to create a more sustainable world."
This latest endeavor aligns seamlessly with both Illinois' ambitious renewable energy targets and Republic Services' robust sustainability commitments. Illinois has set a precedent with its goals to achieve 40% renewable energy by 2030 and a complete transition to 100% clean energy by 2050. Concurrently, Republic Services has pledged to beneficially reuse over 50% of the biogas at all its locations by 2030, demonstrating a shared vision for a greener future.
