October 25, 2024. PurposeEnergy, a renewable fuels and biogas specialist focused on waste solutions for the food and beverage industries, announced the grand opening of its Middlebury renewable energy facility at a ceremony held on October 24 attended by local government and business leaders. The $23 million project utilizes patented anaerobic digestion technology to support Vermont’s circular economy goals by minimizing waste and maximizing resource recoveries.
PurposeEnergy – Middlebury is the state’s first food waste to renewable electricity project awarded under the Vermont Public Utility Commission’s Standard Offer Program. Designed to accommodate the high-strength organic waste from food and beverage manufacturers in the Middlebury Industrial Park, the facility can also accept a wide variety of trucked organic waste from other Vermont businesses. As permitted, the plant can process 100,000 gallons of high-strength organics per day into clean water, renewable electricity, and natural fertilizer.
Agri-Mark/Cabot Creamery Cooperative and Vermont Hard Cider will send their organic waste directly to the plant via piped connections. Additionally, with an incoming truck capacity of 500 gallons per minute, companies like WhistlePig, Ben & Jerry’s, and others will be able to send their waste to Middlebury for recycling. More than eight million kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity are expected to be generated annually for Vermont homes and businesses. The Middlebury facility is expected to eliminate over 2,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.
By the end of this year, PurposeEnergy will have an even greater impact on reducing carbon emissions throughout Vermont with an additional facility opening in St. Albans. Coupled with PurposeEnergy’s initial renewable energy plant in South Burlington, the three facilities combined are expected to generate more than 20 million kWh of renewable electricity per year.