Nopetro Energy has broken ground on a $50 million renewable natural gas production facility at the Lena Road Landfill in Manatee County, Florida, the first project of its kind on the state's west coast.
The facility will capture methane generated by decomposing waste at the landfill, purify it into pipeline-quality RNG and inject it into existing gas infrastructure. The fuel will be used primarily in buses and trucks. Construction is now under way, with operations expected to begin in 2027. The project was first announced in November 2025.
Once operational, the plant is expected to eliminate emissions equivalent to 5.3 million gallons of gasoline per year, an amount Nopetro equates to the carbon captured by roughly 22,000 acres of forest. The company says the facility will generate enough renewable energy to power more than 4,500 homes annually.
Jorge Herrera, chief executive of Nopetro Energy, said: "We're taking landfill gas that would otherwise be wasted, turning it into renewable natural gas and putting it into the pipeline to serve Florida's transportation needs. We're proud to bring that investment to Manatee County and to be building a project that will deliver value for years to come."
The project is structured around a 20-year energy savings performance contract with Manatee County. Under the agreement, the county will receive more than $800,000 in annual revenue, with potential for additional growth of up to $2.1 million. Johnson Controls provided preliminary design, engineering and strategic consulting for the facility and will deliver measurement and verification services over the life of the project. Engineering, procurement and construction services are being provided by Mead & Hunt.
The Manatee County facility expands Nopetro's existing Florida platform, which includes a landfill gas-to-RNG plant in Vero Beach and 15 RNG fuelling stations across the state. Nopetro describes itself as a vertically integrated producer, distributor and operator of natural gas solutions across North America.
