Sioux City Eyes Biogas Revenue to Help Offset Future Sewer Rate Hikes, Resolve Legal Issues Related to Plant
Sioux City's wastewater treatment plant is generating biogas to be sold in the cellulosic biofuels market and, in the process, capturing pollutants that used to be released into the atmosphere.
In 2017, the council greenlighted a $9.3 million project to put in place a system to capture, clean and compress biogas at the plant. Construction on the Renewable Fuels Processing Building at the plant began in October 2019.
On Nov. 13, 2020, the building began producing pipeline quality methane. Then, last month, the City Council approved a transaction confirmation agreement between the city and The Energy Authority, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida, to sell the biogas. Based on current raw biogas volume and RIN price, the city anticipates generating $2.05 million in net revenue per year, according to Utilities Program Manager Yang Oh Jin.