Manatee County selects Nopetro and Johnson Controls to deliver RNG project

Manatee County has selected Nopetro Energy, working in partnership with Johnson Controls, to deliver a first-of-its-kind renewable natural gas (RNG) facility on Florida’s west coast.
The $50 million investment will fund the design, construction and operation of a plant that converts landfill gas into clean fuel for local buses and heavy vehicles.
Construction at the Lena Road Landfill site is expected to begin in 2026, with the facility due to come online in 2027.
Nopetro will own and operate the plant, which will capture methane currently being flared and upgrade it into high-quality RNG before injecting it into existing pipeline infrastructure.
The fuel, fully interchangeable with conventional natural gas, will be distributed across the region and is expected to help improve air quality while providing an affordable, low-carbon alternative for transport fleets.
Project leaders say the initiative will cut emissions equivalent to the CO₂ output from 5.3 million gallons of petrol each year — comparable to the carbon captured by around 22,000 acres of forest.
Once operational, the plant is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power more than 4,500 Florida homes annually.
Around 50 construction jobs and five permanent roles will be created.
“This project reflects what’s possible when innovation and collaboration come together to create real impact,” said Travis Payne, Nopetro Energy’s senior vice-president of RNG Development.
“By transforming a wasted local asset into something productive, we’re helping Manatee County generate new revenue and set the foundation for a more resilient future for generations.”
Johnson Controls provided early-stage design and engineering work, assessed commercial strategies and will oversee measurement and verification services for the life of the project.
“This is a powerful example of our commitment to create smart, efficient and sustainable solutions in the communities we call home,” said Chuck McGinnis, the company’s vice-president of North America sales and development.
Manatee County Commission chair George Kruse welcomed the deal, calling the methane resource “a free revenue source on stuff that we’re currently just burning off”, adding that the county “owes it to the taxpayers to maximise outside revenue so we can eliminate some of their costs”.
Nopetro is also working with engineering and construction firm Mead & Hunt on the project’s delivery.
The new facility will expand Nopetro’s renewable energy footprint, which includes an RNG plant in Vero Beach and 15 RNG fuelling stations across Florida.