Renewable Energy News

GreenLabs Recycling Sustainability Series: Vanguard Renewables

Vanguard Renewables featured in Green Labs Recycling's Sustainability Highlight blog, a recurring series featuring Massachusetts businesses with sustainability-focused missions.

Dairy Farmers of America Work With Vanguard Renewables to Feed Food Insecure Families

John Hanselman, Vanguard Renewables CEO and David Darr of Dairy Farmers of America talk about the Farmers Feeding Families initiative to help combat food insecurity on this podcast with U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action.

The Gas Industry’s Survival Plan: Make Fuel From Cow Poop

Fossil fuel companies think renewable natural gas is the answer to their PR problems. Environmentalists think not.

DFA aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030

As a cooperative invested in the dairy supply chain from farm to table, DFA is taking a strong position by setting a science-based target and committing to reduce both direct and value chain GHG emissions by 30% by 2030.

Virginia’s Dominion Energy is transforming itself into a renewable energy powerhouse

Dominion is working with startup Vanguard Renewables, which deploys manure to renewable natural gas systems at dairy farms.

Feeding Families in Need: Renewable Energy Companies Enter the Mix

As U.S. food assistance programs grapple with overwhelming demand during the coronavirus pandemic, some in New England are finding support from unusual partners—renewable energy companies.

Turning Manure Into Money

When Randy Jordan, a fifth-generation dairy farmer in central Massachusetts, looked into turning manure from his 300 cows into natural gas more than a decade ago, he just wanted to find a way to lower his increasingly painful electric bill.

Millions of Gallons of Stale Beer Is One Hangover From Lockdown

In the concert halls, stadiums and bars across the U.S. that have fallen silent during the coronavirus pandemic, an unusual problem has emerged: what to do with the vast quantity of beer that’s gone past its sell-by date.

Vermont dairy farmers hope anaerobic digester can provide financial boost

The Goodrich Family of Goodrich Family Farm in Salisbury, VT is hopeful the Farm Powered anaerobic digester being constructed by Vanguard Renewables will provide a financial boost to the farm, reduce the farm’s environmental impact, and offer

How Massachusetts Farms Turn Food Waste Into Renewable Energy

Americans waste a lot of food. As much as 40 percent of the country's food supply gets thrown out, according to federal data.

Dairy Farmers to Give Away Free Milk in Boston

Dairy farmers across the country have been forced to dump milk they can't sell into their fields – an awful waste of their hard work, and of valuable food.

PBS NewsHour Waste Not

In the final episode of the special series this week on food waste, PBS News Hour series "Waste Not, Want Not" looks at some innovative solutions being developed to deal with the growing problem of spoiled and surplus food in this country. Special

Where is Renewable Natural Gas Moving Forward?

Where is Renewable Natural Gas Moving Forward? Find out in this Waste 360 article featuring Vanguard CEO, John Hanselman. “The downstream component — convincing offtakers to commit to a long-term agreement — is the biggest challenge. But

Gas companies want to recycle your manure

"Poop is gold today" - Randy Jordan, Jordan Dairy Farms. Jordan hosts 2 Vanguard Renewables Farm Powered anaerobic digesters on his farms in Mass. Vanguard is expanding manure-only and food waste and manure to renewable natural gas projects

John Hanselman Appointed to Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas Leadership Advisory Board

The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas recently appointed John Hanselman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vanguard Renewables, to the organization’s Leadership Advisory Board.

The Competitive Edge: Vanguard Renewables

Q: What was the reason for founding your organization – what was the open niche you saw that could be addressed with a new product or service? What was the problem, or gap, or opportunity? A: Vanguard Renewables’ leadership saw an opportunity

Panning for Gold in the Waste Stream: Vanguard Renewables helps farmers harvest energy from their by-products

When Randy Jordan takes part in his local Fourth of July parade these days, he no longer worries about neighbors turning their noses up at him. In the past, they had their reasons.

'This Is History': Big Ten University Students Unanimously Pass Resolution Calling On Schools to Divest From Fossil Fuels

Student body presidents of the Big Ten universities are calling on their schools to divest from the fossil fuel industry after a resolution was passed unanimously

Turning cow waste into clean power on a national scale

A 1,000-pound dairy cow produces an average of 80 pounds of manure each day. Multiply that by the estimated 9 million dairy cattle in the U.S., and that’s a lot of manure.

From cow pats to clean energy

Harmful emissions from the agriculture sector are increasingly scrutinized as the climate changes. Now, energy companies want to help New Mexico dairy farmers reduce emissions.

Industry's 3 largest landfill operators among California's biggest methane emitters: report

Republic Services, Waste Connections and Waste Management are among California's leading methane "super-emitters,"

Dominion Energy and Vanguard Renewables partner to form nationwide network of dairy waste-to-energy projects

Dominion Energy and Vanguard Renewables Ag partnered in a more than 0-million nationwide partnership to convert methane from U.S. dairy farms into renewable natural gas (RNG) that can be used to heat homes, power businesses and fuel vehicles.

Weekly Digest: Partnership developing nationwide network of dairy waste-to-energy projects

An expansion of an alliance involving Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is designed to reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions while improving the economic viability of family-owned dairy farms.

Vanguard Renewables and Dominion Energy partner up on 1st nationwide network of dairy waste-to-energy projects

In today’s Digest, find out how Vanguard Renewables and Dominion Energy are partnering up on a 0 million nationwide strategic partnership to convert methane from U.S. dairy farms into clean, RNG...

Dominion Energy Turns to Cow Manure in Gas Pact

Deal is the latest venture between livestock concerns and power producers to generate gas from animal waste. The arrangement calls for the utility to fund construction of organic-waste processing facilities called anaerobic digesters amid clusters

Chew On This: Farmers Are Using Food Waste To Make Electricity

This story was produced as part of a collaboration with the PBS NewsHour. Hosted by Allison Aubrey. Learn how Massachusetts farmers, food retailers, and food manufacturers are turning farm and food waste into renewable energy.

Vanguard Renewables and Vermont Gas Win American Biogas Council 2019 Awards

PRESS RELEASE: Vanguard Renewables and Vermont Gas Win American Biogas Council 2019 Awards

PRESS RELEASE: Vanguard Renewables and Jordan Dairy Farms, Rutland, Massachusetts Win American Biogas Council 2019 Longevity Award

How anaerobic digesters are helping process organics while sustaining US farms

Vanguard’s goal is to place Anaerobic Digesters on farms across North America.

Vanguard breaks ground on food waste to energy project

System will help food producers and consumers comply with Vermont’s 2020 food waste ban.

Biomethane to Supply Vermont College with 50% of its Heating and Cooling Energy Needs

Vanguard Renewables has selected Kinsley Energy Systems to supply high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) for a new renewable energy project.

Energy 2028 update: College partners with Goodrich Farm on anaerobic digester project

Middlebury College broke ground on an anaerobic digester facility at the end of August, pushing the college towards its goal of using 100% renewable energy sources by 2028.

The New Business Imperative – Employees turn environmental action into a workplace necessity

This survey of Fortune 1000 employees finds that if companies are to meet employee expectations for corporate environmental efforts, and reap the associated benefits, they have significant work ahead of them.

Milestones Reached as Vermont Gas, Vanguard Renewables Break Ground on Biogas-RNG Project

For many who attended the groundbreaking for the new dairy digester at Vermont’s Goodrich Farm, the sense of true celebration was palpable.

Diversification the secret behind Bar-Way Farm’s century of success

DEERFIELD — Steven Melnik used horses when he started his farm in 1919. A century later, his great-grandson can use his smartphone to turn on the pumps at a 750,000-gallon methane digester that makes bedding for dairy cows, as well as electricity,

Media Coverage for the official groundbreaking at Goodrich Farm of Salisbury biodigester

Multiple news outlets covered this historic event, and groundbreaking of the new Salisbury Anerobic Digestor. Read coverage from WPTZ (NBC5), VtDigger, Houston Chronicle, VtBiz, WCAX.

Vanguard Renewables, Goodrich Farm, Middlebury College, and Vermont Gas Celebrate Groundbreaking for Facility that Turns Manure and Food Waste into Renewable Energy

Middlebury will be the primary consumer of the RNG produced at the dairy farm.

Vermont farm turns manure into renewable energy, powering Middlebury College

The digester, which extracts methane from manure and food waste, is similar in design to the one under construction in Salisbury, Vermont.

How cows will help heat a Vermont college campus

SALISBURY, Vt. (WCAX) Soon cows will help heat a local school campus. Tuesday, Middlebury College and its partners broke ground on a new facility on the Goodrich Family Farm in Salisbury.

Partners hail groundbreaking of Salisbury biodigester

Chase and Danielle Goodrich, operators of a 900 milking cow dairy in southern Addison County, had a decades long dream come true on Tuesday when construction began on a plant that will turn manure into natural gas.

‘Renewable natural gas’ from manure and food waste heats up Addison County

The digester, which extracts methane from manure and food waste, is similar in design to the one under construction in Salisbury, Vermont.

Could Renewable Natural Gas Be the Next Big Thing in Green Energy?

“The history of the investment tax credit and the production tax credit to incent energy exploration is longstanding. They did it for oil and gas. It’s been hugely successful in wind and solar. It’s time that anaerobic digestion gets its

Federal bill could restore biogas tax credits, bolster organics infrastructure

Pioneering Food Waste Recycling – Episode 16: A conversation with John Hanselman, CEO of Vanguard Renewables.

CEO John Hanselman featured on the Nothing Wasted podcast today. Learn about how food waste recycling gives back to food waste producers, haulers, and the environment. Take a listen!

College Campuses Implement Waste Reduction Measures

To improve their carbon footprints, many higher education institutions have implemented measures for reducing waste in their sustainability plans.

Low Carbon Fuel Standard is a success in California and soon will be rolled out in the Northeast.

Food Waste Collection and Recycling Provides Haulers with New Destinations for Organics and Financial Benefits

The benefits of food waste collection and recycling using Farm Powered Anaerobic Digestion featured in the May issue of Waste Advantage magazine.

It’s Only Waste If You Waste It: Turning Food Waste into Brand and Bottom Line Value

Food Industry Executive article by Vanguard CEO John Hanselman about how recycling food waste builds brand and bottom line value. The article features two of Vanguard's Farm Powered Partners - Cabot Creamery and Gorton's Seafood.

The state’s ban on food waste lacks teeth, critics say

Much of the food waste in Massachusetts is still not being recycled as outlined in the Commonwealth’s organic waste ban. There are a number of success stories such as Whole Foods, which recycles the organic waste from 17 of the company’s 32

New Study Shows Employees Seek and Stay Local to Greener Companies

Nearly 70% of respondents say that a strong sustainability plan would affect their decision to stay with a company long term. In fact, about 30% have left a company due to its lack of a corporate sustainability agenda and over 11% have done so more

DSNY Enforces Organic Waste Requirements

The City of New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY) announced that on February 15 it will begin enforcement of a city law requiring some larger restaurants, chain restaurants and grocery stores to separate their food waste from their trash, and

Inside Vanguard Renewables, the Northeast’s biggest food waste recycler

Vanguard Renewables is featured in a January 31, Waste Dive article by Cole Rosengren. The company recently opened its latest farm-based anaerobic digester, with more on the way. CEO John Hanselman explains why his business works where others have

Digester Developer Finds Sweet Spots

Vanguard Renewables uses an “everybody wins” approach as it builds, owns and operates anaerobic digesters on dairy farms to process food waste and manure according to a recent article by Nora Goldstein in BioCycle Magazine.

Young people say not recycling is a dealbreaker

74 percent of Americans would rather shop and spend money at a business that recycles and reuses materials according to a new study by The Recycling Partnership.

Food to Fuel—It is Not as Easy as it Seems!

Food to Fuel article in December Waste Advantage Magazine by Vanguard CEO John Hanselman touches on the challenges and the benefits of organics recycling to renewable energy.

Considering cleaner alternatives to natural gas

John Hanselman’s Letter to the Editor response to a recent Boston Globe editorial regarding alternatives to conventional natural gas

How recycling is changing in all 50 states

There have been significant recent changes in the recycling landscape for municipalities since the exit of China and these are affecting municipalities and haulers in Massachusetts and around the country.

NWRA Recognizes the Best in Recycling

The 2018 Organics Recycler of the Year Award went to Vanguard Renewables. Vanguard’s Farm Powered organics recycling and anaerobic digester program vertically integrates the organics feedstock chain and farms to solve food waste challenges,

Vanguard Renewables Named 2018 Organics Recycler of the Year By the National Waste & Recycling Association

The award recognizes the substantial contribution that Vanguard’s Farm Powered organics recycling and renewable energy production program is making to protect the environment and advance the waste and recycling industry.

Compelling renewable energy and AD testimony at MA Statehouse hearing

Huge thanks to everyone who supported renewable energy and anaerobic digestion at the MA Energy Committee hearing on September 19th at the Statehouse in Boston.

Digester makes dairy farm super sustainable...

When spring arrives, farmer Peter Melnick says, he’ll be thrilled to be spreading a liquid fertilizer from the new million electricity- and heat-producing waste digester that’s getting ready for operation.

Nutrition experts predict sustainability ‘most important’ trend for 2017

Sustainability wins another vote for the “most important” trend to watch in 2017, followed closely by plant-based protein, according to a small, but well-educated group of nutrition experts, surveyed by Ketchum’s Global Food and Beverage

New Film Showcases ‘Forgotten’ Dairy Farms

Many dairy farms are struggling to survive and are often not considered a part of the “new food movement.” In this film, “Forgotten Farms” producer Sarah Gardner tells the story of the farms and the farmers that are the backbone of farming

Farm Credit Celebrates 100 Years

Farm Credit East recognizes the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Farm Credit System and its story of commitment to agriculture and rural America. It also acknowledges the hard-working farmers, commercial fishermen and forest products

SJC rules Mass. failed to issue proper regulations to cut emissions

In a decision environmental advocates hailed as a landmark, the state’s highest court ruled that Massachusetts regulators must set specific limits on various sources of greenhouse gases to comply with the legal obligation to reduce emissions

Climate change could be even worse for Boston than previously thought

The consequences of climate change on Boston are expected to be far more calamitous than previous studies have suggested, a new report commissioned by the city says. In the worst-case scenario, sea levels could rise more than 10 feet by the end of

Biofuels Make Significant Contribution to GHG Emissions Savings

The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance in cooperation with 2 Consultants Inc. released a new report at the World Climate Summit today entitled, “Green House Gas (GHG) Emission Reductions from World Biofuel Production and Use for 2015.”

Net Metering Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Net metering allows customers of certain electric distribution companies (note: check whether your company is listed below) to generate their own electricity in order to offset their electricity usage. All customer classes are eligible for net

MA utilities look to buy renewable energy to power 136,000 homes

Massachusetts utility companies are preparing to buy enough renewable energy to power 136,000 homes as part of a major initiative announced by Governor Charlie Baker on Thursday. The companies may buy up to 817 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year

The Slow Rise Of America's Renewable Energy Market

From Science Daily, October 7, 2015 Video Source: Newsy / Powered by NewsLook.com Renewable energy is gaining steam in the oil-thirsty U.S. market, but green tech has hurdles to clear before it can take a bigger slice of the pie. Video provided