Canadian Biogas Investments appoints new CEO

Canadian Biogas Investments Inc. (CBI), a Calgary-based developer of dry-fermentation anaerobic digestion projects, has announced that investment executive James B. (“Jim”) Hartwell has agreed to join the company as President and Chief Executive Officer. Hartwell will also assume the role of Chairman of the Board.
Bringing more than four decades of investment industry experience, Hartwell will guide CBI’s strategic direction, operational execution, and capital-raising initiatives as the company expands its renewable natural gas (RNG) platform nationwide.
His leadership is expected to support CBI’s goal of delivering large-scale, bankable biogas infrastructure that benefits investors, agricultural operators, and rural communities.
CBI holds the exclusive Canadian license for Renergon’s solid-state anaerobic digestion (RDS) technology, a dry-fermentation system that processes cattle manure into renewable natural gas, carbon credits, and high-quality compost.
The RDS process is designed to accommodate higher dry-matter feedstocks with reduced water consumption, improved stability, lower odour, and a smaller footprint compared with conventional wet anaerobic digestion — all while maintaining strong methane yields.
The company’s first commercial facility will be located at the Driland Feeders feedlot in Warner County, Alberta, owned and operated by Jacob Bueckert. Scheduled for completion in Q2 2027, the project is expected to process roughly 80,000 tonnes of cattle manure annually and produce approximately 250,000 GJ of pipeline-grade RNG.
To deliver the project, CBI has engaged CANA Construction as project design and management partner, Obsidian Engineering as lead engineering consultant, Green Analytics for environmental services, and EXP for regulatory support.
“I am excited to join Canadian Biogas at this pivotal stage,” Hartwell said. “Renergon’s RDS technology, combined with strong partners like Driland Feeders, CANA Construction, Obsidian Engineering, Green Analytics, and EXP, creates a compelling platform for scalable, low-carbon energy and meaningful methane reductions across Canada’s cattle industry.”