Viridi: RNG’s Rise From Alternative To Essential Energy
Renewable natural gas (RNG) emerged as part of the alternative energy conversation in the early 2000s as waste-to-energy pioneers began to realize its potential as a low-carbon fuel. At the time, support was mixed—energy experts debated RNG’s viability, the technology was in its infancy, and regulatory backing was inconsistent. Infrastructure was sparse, and big energy companies were largely uninterested. You were more likely to encounter two guys in a pickup truck roaming the countryside looking for landfills to tap than representatives from any major oil and gas company.
Yet, as the threat of climate change intensified and the appetite for renewables grew, RNG began gaining traction as governments and businesses sought sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Nearly two decades later, RNG has matured into a vital component of the energy mix—with energy derived from landfill, dairy, wastewater and food waste feedstocks used to heat homes and businesses, fuel heavy-duty vehicles, and power industrial operations.