Nopetro Energy, a vertically integrated producer, distributor and operator of natural gas solutions across North America, joined Manatee County, Johnson Controls and Mead & Hunt this morning at the Lena Road Landfill to break ground on a $50 million renewable natural gas (RNG) production facility, the first of its kind on Florida’s west coast.
The facility will capture and purify landfill methane for delivery through existing pipelines, supplying a cleaner fuel option for buses and trucks. The groundbreaking ceremony marked the official start of construction on the project, first announced in November 2025, with operations expected to commence in 2027. It featured an unveiling of new site renderings and additional project details, alongside remarks from key stakeholders behind the development.
“Today is an exciting day for Nopetro and for Manatee County as we’re turning something that was once considered waste into a valuable energy resource for Florida,” said Jorge Herrera, CEO of Nopetro Energy. “We’re taking landfill gas that would otherwise be wasted, turning it into renewable natural gas and putting it into the pipeline to serve Florida’s transportation needs. We’re proud to bring that investment to Manatee County and to be building a project that will deliver value for years to come.”
Owned and operated by Nopetro, the new facility will capture methane gas from the Lena Road Landfill, produced as buried waste decomposes, and upgrade it into high-quality RNG, a carbon net-neutral fuel derived from waste material. The captured biogas will undergo a purification process before being injected into existing pipeline infrastructure, delivering a domestic, affordable and cleaner fuel option for buses and trucks while helping improve local air quality.
“By turning waste into worth, this project transforms a landfill byproduct into a valuable community asset,” said Patrick Shea, Utilities Director for Manatee County. “It is an innovative example of how Manatee County can deliver services responsibly by developing practical, forward-thinking ways to create value from the infrastructure and resources we already manage.”
Once operational, the facility is expected to generate enough renewable energy to power more than 4,500 Florida homes each year while eliminating emissions equivalent to 5.3 million gallons of gasoline, an amount equivalent to the carbon captured by approximately 22,000 acres of forest.
The Manatee County project expands Nopetro’s existing renewable energy platform, which includes its first landfill gas-to-RNG facility in Vero Beach, Florida, and 15 RNG fueling stations across the state. “Every day, material comes through these gates that has reached the end of its useful life. But beneath it all is landfill gas that still has value,” said Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse. “Why waste it? Through this partnership, methane produced here will be captured, cleaned and transformed into renewable natural gas that can move through existing pipelines and ultimately be used as fuel.”
Nopetro has partnered with Johnson Controls, which provided preliminary design, engineering and strategic consulting for the RNG facility and will deliver measurement and verification services for the duration of the project.
“We’re proud to serve as a strategic partner and provide deep technology expertise from the beginning of this effort to help the County evaluate and advance this opportunity,” said Charles McGinnis, Vice President of Sales and Development for North America, Sustainable Infrastructure at Johnson Controls. “Through the 20-year energy savings performance contract, the County will unlock a new source of revenue and cut carbon emissions while freeing up capital to invest in key public infrastructure.”
The agreement includes third-party measurement and verification of system performance while creating more than $800,000 in annual revenue for the County, with potential for additional revenue growth of up to $2.1 million. Mead & Hunt, an engineering, procurement and construction services firm, is responsible for designing and constructing the facility.
“Mead & Hunt is proud to be the Engineer, Procurement, Constructor (EPC) partner for this unique project,” said Jeff VanVoorhis, Vice President of EPC Project Development at Mead & Hunt. “We look forward to our next celebration with this team for the ribbon cutting ceremony upon successful completion.”