Manatee County breaks ground on $50 million landfill gas-to-fuel project

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) - Manatee County and its private partners are set to break ground Friday on a $50 million project designed to turn gas from the Lena Road Landfill into fuel.Nopetro Energy, Johnson Controls and Mead Hunt are joining the county on the planned renewable natural gas facility. Organizers said it would be the first project of its kind on Florida’s west coast.ORIGINAL COVERAGE | Manatee County approves $50 million landfill gas-to-energy facilityThe facility would collect methane at the landfill, clean it and send the resulting fuel through existing natural gas pipelines. Nopetro said the fuel could then be used by customers, including bus and truck fleets.Nopetro will develop and operate the facility, according to organizers. The company describes the fuel as a lower-carbon alternative to conventional fuels.Project partners estimate the facility could reduce emissions by an amount equal to 5.3 million gallons of gasoline each year.They also said it could produce