Vanguard Renewables and CenterPoint Energy to Advance Clean Energy Initiatives in Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanguard Renewables, a leading U.S. environmental services company and producer of biomethane from organic waste, today announced its first utility offtake through a new agreement with CenterPoint Energy, a leading energy delivery company serving over 7 million customers nationwide. The agreement marks a key milestone as Vanguard Renewables scales renewable natural gas (RNG) infrastructure to help states like Minnesota meet their clean energy goals.

New Vanguard Renewables facility in Meeker County will convert organic waste into clean energy for CenterPoint Energy’s Minnesota distribution system, supporting 930,000 customers, local jobs, and state climate goals.

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CenterPoint Energy will purchase RNG produced at a new anaerobic digestion facility in Meeker County, co-located on a historic dairy and crop farm and integrated into CenterPoint’s existing natural gas infrastructure. The system serves 930,000 customers across Minnesota.

Processing up to 290 tons of food and beverage waste daily, the facility will generate approximately 270,000 MMBtu of RNG annually. The project will create up to 100 construction jobs and 10 permanent operational roles, supporting local economic development and expanding access to regionally produced clean energy.

"This agreement with CenterPoint Energy reflects our shared commitment to deploying clean energy solutions that benefit the environment and local communities," said Michael O'Laughlin, CEO at Vanguard Renewables. "It also represents a deeper investment in the Midwest, where we are bringing our circular model to life by harnessing the power of waste to build local infrastructure, support multigenerational farmers, and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

RNG is rapidly emerging as one of the most practical and scalable tools for strengthening U.S. energy independence while transforming waste into a valuable resource. Vanguard Renewables produces RNG by processing unavoidable food waste from manufacturers and retailers with farm-based organics like manure through anaerobic digestion. The captured methane is upgraded to pipeline-quality gas, while byproducts are returned to the farm to support regenerative agriculture.

With over a decade of experience and more than a million tons of waste diverted from landfills, Vanguard Renewables is uniquely positioned to accelerate the deployment of regionally produced RNG. The company's national expansion strategy includes a pipeline of more than 30 projects slated for development by 2028.

"At CenterPoint Energy, we're excited to invest in innovative efforts that help lower emissions and advance Minnesota's energy future, such as Vanguard Renewables’ new anaerobic digestion facility," said Brad Steber, Vice President, Minnesota Gas at CenterPoint Energy. "By adding regionally produced RNG to our distribution system, we can provide our customers with a lower-carbon energy source that continues to deliver the safe, reliable service they expect. We look forward to helping grow the RNG industry, create clean energy from waste, and support our regional economies."

This project is part of CenterPoint Energy's innovation plan, approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission under the state's Natural Gas Innovation Act. The plan includes a diverse set of pilot projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding decarbonization efforts for Minnesota customers.

The new facility will be Vanguard Renewables’ third in the Midwest, joining an operational site in Eden and another under construction in River Falls, both in Wisconsin.

About Vanguard Renewables

Vanguard Renewables is a leading U.S. environmental services company and producer of biomethane from organic waste. Headquartered in Weston, Massachusetts, the company builds, owns, and operates on-farm anaerobic digesters that convert food, beverage, and agricultural waste into pipeline-ready renewable natural gas. Vanguard Renewables is rapidly scaling its national footprint, with operational sites across the Northeast and new facilities under construction in the Midwest and South. By diverting organic waste streams from landfills, the company is reducing greenhouse gas emissions at scale while supporting critical domestic energy infrastructure and regenerative agriculture for America's farms. Vanguard Renewables is a portfolio company of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), part of BlackRock.

SOURCE Vanguard Renewables