Landfill Waste Now Powers Homes in Owensboro

In a big step forward for clean energy, a new facility in Owensboro, Kentucky is turning landfill gas into usable power. The project at the West Daviess County Landfill recently became fully operational, marking the region’s first large‐scale effort to convert waste emissions into renewable natural gas.

What’s happening?

• The project is run by RPM Holdings — a joint venture between Redtail Renewables and Pacolet Milliken.
• It captures methane gas that comes from buried waste decomposing without oxygen at the landfill.
• The captured gas is cleaned by removing carbon dioxide and nitrogen, and then converted into renewable natural gas (RNG). This gas can be used for transport, utilities, and industry.

Why does this matter?

Here are some of the major benefits:

What people are saying

• Casey Holsapple, CEO of Redtail Renewables, said the project shows the county’s “commitment to recognising and solving the problems of today while creating long‐term solutions for a cleaner future.”
• Charlie Castlen, Judge-Executive of Daviess County, called it “a tremendous win for both residents and taxpayers.”
• Lance Jordan of Pacolet Power & Infrastructure noted that this is a good example of government and private companies working together on environmental challenges.

How the system works

1. Waste is buried in the landfill.
2. As it decomposes without oxygen, methane is produced.
3. A “well‐field system” collects this gas.
4. The gas is sent to a processing plant where contaminants are removed.
5. The cleaned gas becomes RNG, which meets the same standards as traditional natural gas.

Background & timeline

• Construction of the facility began after RPM Holdings acquired the project in 2021.
• Work took about 12 to 15 months. The facility has been producing gas for a few weeks as of the announcement.
• The project is backed by private equity — including Inyarek Partners of Boston, supporting Redtail’s renewable energy initiatives.

What’s next?

• The facility employs four full-time operators right now.
• The county expects ongoing benefits: cleaner air, less waste, lower costs, and revenue for local services.
• The project is essentially a blueprint that other counties and landfills might follow if they want to convert their waste emissions into usable energy.

Why it’s important for others

• Many landfills simply flare methane (burn it off), which wastes potential energy and still has environmental impact. This project shows a better alternative.
• It illustrates how private–public partnerships can deliver both environmental benefits and economic savings.
• It helps shift the mindset of “waste problem” into “energy opportunity”.

In short

The new facility in Owensboro marks a major advance in facing both waste management and climate change together. By capturing methane and converting it into renewable natural gas, the project delivers multiple wins: fewer greenhouse gas emissions, energy for thousands of homes, cost savings for taxpayers, and collaboration between government and business.

It shows that waste doesn’t just have to be a problem it can be a resource. And for Daviess County, it means cleaner air, smarter spending, and a step toward a greener future.