Vanguard Renewables & TotalEnergies break ground on Minnesota AD facility

Vanguard Renewables has broken ground on a new anaerobic digestion facility in Litchfield, Minnesota, developed in partnership with TotalEnergies and co-located at Wagner Dairy, a family farm operating since 1887.

The plant will process more than 300 tonnes of food and beverage waste per day, converting it into renewable natural gas (RNG) and nutrient-rich fertiliser.

Once operational, it will produce approximately 270,000 MMBtu of RNG annually — sufficient for around 5,300 homes — fed into CenterPoint Energy's distribution network serving roughly 950,000 Minnesota customers.

CEO Mike O'Laughlin said the Midwest's concentration of agricultural production, food manufacturing and energy demand made it "a natural fit for continued investment" as the company expands nationally.

CenterPoint Energy's VP of utility strategy Muss Akram said the project would give customers "a lower carbon fuel for their homes and businesses" as part of the utility's broader push into Minnesota-made renewable energy.

TotalEnergies VP of biogas Marc de Lataillade described the facility as evidence of the two companies' shared commitment to "scaling practical, low-carbon energy solutions", adding that projects of this kind support farmers and local communities while advancing circular economy goals.

Wagner Dairy co-owner Justin Wagner said the project represented "an investment in the future", improving nutrient and manure management while creating long-term value for the farm and surrounding community.

Construction is expected to support 100 jobs, with around 10 permanent positions once the facility is live.

With commissioning, Vanguard Renewables will operate 14 facilities nationwide. The company estimates the Midwest holds potential for up to 1,580 trillion Btu of RNG production — more than eight times the current US market size.