BioCNG Completes Wastewater to CNG Project in Colorado

A ceremony was held to mark the official completion of the BioCNG Project to carry biogas from the Persigo Wastewater Treatment Plant via an underground pipeline to the City’s Municipal Services Campus where it will be compressed to CNG and used to fuel the City’s fleet of CNG vehicles and County CNG Grand Valley Transit busses. The project was the recipient of a generous grant of $500,000 from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs which was instrumental in moving it forward.

The design and installation of the project was performed by BioCNG, a contractor out of Madison, Wisconsin, that specializes in biogas pipeline projects.

“This is a project that has been in the works for many years and to be the first in the nation to complete something so unique makes us proud,” said Mayor Phyllis Norris “This project will serve as model for future projects across the country.”

The early stages of this project date back to 2003 when the concept of capturing the biomethane gas that was being flared off at Persigo and putting it to practical use was first discussed. Due to the novelty and complexity of the project, significant planning and engineering was necessary to bring the project to fruition.

The project will allow the City and County to fuel CNG vehicles at a reduced rate. As a result of the decreased cost of fueling the fleet, a project payoff is estimated to be realized in approximately eight years.

The ceremony culminated with the toppling of the old flare to mark the transition to the new system.