Florida Construction News staff writer
Nopetro Energy, a vertically integrated natural gas producer and distributor, announced Monday a $50 million investment to develop a landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas (RNG) facility in Manatee County, in partnership with Johnson Controls.
The facility, the first of its kind on Florida’s west coast, will capture methane from the Lena Road Landfill and convert it into high-quality RNG, a low-carbon alternative to conventional natural gas. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with operations starting in 2027.
Nopetro will own and operate the facility. The purified biogas will be injected into existing pipelines to serve customers across Florida’s west coast. Because RNG is interchangeable with conventional natural gas, it can be used for buses, trucks, and other applications while reducing local emissions.
Nopetro partnered with engineering and construction firm Mead & Hunt to design and build the facility. The Manatee County project expands Nopetro’s existing RNG platform, which includes its first landfill gas-to-RNG facility in Vero Beach and 15 fueling stations across Florida.
The project is projected to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to burning 5.3 million gallons of gasoline annually — roughly the carbon capture of 22,000 acres of forest. Once operational, the facility will produce enough renewable energy to power more than 4,500 Florida homes each year.
The initiative is also expected to support approximately 50 construction jobs and five permanent positions, providing economic benefits to Manatee County and the surrounding area.
“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 contributed to preliminary design and engineering, evaluated monetization strategies, and will provide measurement and verification services throughout the project.
“We are proud to partner with Manatee County, and this project is a powerful example of our commitment to create smart, efficient and sustainable solutions in the communities we call home,” said Chuck McGinnis, vice president of North America sales and development for Johnson Controls.
Manatee County Commission Chair George Kruse called the project a “free revenue source on stuff that we’re currently just burning off,” adding that maximizing external revenue helps reduce taxpayer costs.
