Using Captured Methane to Power Buses

WSSC Water, a bi-county water agency serving Prince George and Montgomery Counties in Maryland, is partnering with Montgomery County to build a bioenergy facility that will capture methane gas produced during wastewater treatment and turn it in to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) to be used for the county’s Ride On buses.

Patrick Herron describes the Piscataway Bioenergy Facility in an article for The MoCo show, writing, “Once construction of the bioenergy facility is complete in the fall of 2024, all biosolids from WSSC Water’s five other plants will be delivered to the new facility. Through innovative technology, the amount of biosolids left over from the new treatment process will be significantly reduced and cleaner (Class A). A state-of-the-art digestion process creating these Class-A biosolids will generate methane gas, which will be captured and upgraded on site to RNG.” WSSC also plans to sell renewable energy credits.

“Construction of the $271 million facility in Accokeek, Maryland, began in the spring of 2019 and is expected to be substantially complete by November 2024.” County Executive Marc Elrich said “This agreement to turn methane gas into fuel for our buses is a win-win-win for our constituents, commuters and, most importantly, our environment.”