Manatee County Selects Nopetro and Johnson Controls to Deliver Innovative Renewable Natural Gas Project

Rhea-AI Summary

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) partnered with Nopetro Energy on a $50 million project to design, finance, build and operate a landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas (RNG) facility in Manatee County, Florida.

Construction is expected to begin in 2026 with operations starting in 2027. The facility will capture methane from Lena Road Landfill, upgrade it to pipeline-quality RNG for trucks and buses, and inject it into existing pipelines across Florida's west coast.

Projected impacts include emissions reductions equal to the CO₂ from 5.3 million gallons of gasoline annually, powering > 4,500 homes per year, ~50 construction jobs, and five permanent positions.

Positive

• Committed capital of $50 million for project development
• Construction scheduled to begin in 2026
• Operations expected in 2027
• Emissions reduction equivalent to 5.3 million gallons gasoline annually
• Will produce enough energy for > 4,500 homes yearly

Negative

• Only five permanent jobs projected after construction
• Project timeline spans multiple years before revenue generation

Insights

Renewable Energy Project Analyst

Manatee County will host a $50 million landfill-to-RNG plant, starting construction in 2026 and operating in 2027.

The project funds design, financing, construction and operation of a landfill gas upgrade facility owned by Nopetro with engineering and services support from Johnson Controls and Mead & Hunt. It will capture methane from the Lena Road Landfill, purify it to renewable natural gas, and inject it into existing pipeline infrastructure for trucks and buses across Florida's west coast.

The announcement quantifies environmental and economic outputs: elimination of CO2 equivalent to 5.3 million gallons of gasoline per year, carbon capture comparable to 22,000 acres of forest, enough energy for over 4,500 homes annually, about 50 construction jobs and five permanent positions. Those concrete metrics support measurable operational and community impact once the plant runs.

The first-of-its-kind facility on Florida's west coast will turn waste into clean fuel for local trucks and buses, create jobs, drive lasting economic and environmental benefits

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla., Dec. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nopetro Energy, a vertically-integrated producer, distributor and operator of natural gas solutions across North America, in partnership with Johnson Controls, announced today a $50 million investment to design, finance, build and operate a landfill gas to renewable natural gas (RNG) production facility in Manatee County. The first facility of its kind on Florida's west coast, construction is expected to begin in 2026 with operations commencing in 2027.

Owned and operated by Nopetro, the facility will capture methane gas from the Lena Road Landfill and upgrade it into high-quality RNG, a biogas and the lowest-carbon alternative fuel available. The captured biogas will undergo a purification process before being injected into existing pipeline infrastructure to serve customers throughout Florida's west coast. Since RNG is fully interchangeable with conventional natural gas, it can be seamlessly distributed to end users, providing a domestic, affordable and cleaner fuel option for buses and trucks while helping improve local air quality.

The project is expected to reduce emissions from biogas currently flared at the landfill, eliminating the equivalent of CO₂ produced by 5.3 million gallons of car gasoline each year. This reduction is comparable to the amount of carbon that would be captured by approximately 22,000 acres of forest. When operational, the facility will produce enough renewable energy to power more than 4,500 Florida homes each year. Beyond its environmental impact, the project will support approximately 50 construction jobs and create five permanent positions, generating long-term economic and community benefits for Manatee County and the surrounding region.

"This project reflects what's possible when innovation and collaboration come together to create real impact," said Travis Payne, Nopetro Energy's senior vice president of RNG Development. "By transforming a wasted local asset into something productive, we're helping Manatee County generate new revenue, and set the foundation for a more resilient future for generations."

Through this partnership, Johnson Controls provided preliminary design and engineering for the RNG facility, evaluated monetization strategies and will deliver measurement and verification services for the duration of the project.

"We are proud to partner with Manatee County, and this project is a powerful example of our commitment to create smart, efficient and sustainable solutions in the communities we call home," said Chuck McGinnis, vice president of North America sales and development for Johnson Controls. "Through converting waste into clean energy, we're fostering long-term economic and environmental benefits and helping build a sustainable future for all."

"This is a free revenue source on stuff that we're currently just burning off," said Manatee County Commission chair George Kruse. "We owe it to the taxpayers to try to maximize outside revenue so we can eliminate some of their costs."

Nopetro also partnered with Mead & Hunt, an engineering, procurement and construction services firm, to design and construct the facility.

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 its 15 RNG fueling stations across the state.

ABOUT NOPETRO ENERGY

Founded in 2008, Nopetro Energy is a vertically integrated energy leader focused on the production and distribution of renewable natural gas (RNG) for heavy duty transportation and industrial consumption. The company provides end-to-end energy and transportation management solutions, helping government agencies and companies strengthen fuel independence and create lasting economic value. Nopetro designs, builds, finances and operates both RNG production plants and fueling stations, allowing fleets to transition to this substantially less expensive, cleaner and domestic alternative to diesel. Visit www.nopetroenergy.com to discover how Nopetro is leading the way to a more energy-independent and financially predictable future.

ABOUT JOHNSON CONTROLS

At Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet. 

Building on a proud history of 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering. Today, Johnson Controls offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry.

Visit johnsoncontrols.com for more information and follow @Johnsoncontrols on social platforms.

ABOUT MEAD & HUNT

Founded in 1900, Mead & Hunt is a national architecture, engineering, planning, and construction services firm providing innovative solutions across aviation, transportation, water, energy, food and beverage, and federal markets. With a people-first approach and a commitment to sustainable, forward-thinking design, Mead & Hunt partners with clients to create communities that thrive. Learn more at meadhunt.com.

Contact:
Rachel Gerardi Puretz
rachel.puretz@rbbcommunications.com

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SOURCE Nopetro Energy

FAQ

What did Johnson Controls (JCI) announce about the Manatee County RNG project on December 2, 2025?

JCI partnered with Nopetro on a $50 million landfill gas-to-RNG facility in Manatee County with construction in 2026 and operations 2027.

How much investment is involved in the Manatee County RNG project (JCI/Nopetro)?

The partners announced a $50 million investment to design, finance, build and operate the RNG facility.

When will the Manatee County RNG facility start operating and supplying RNG?

Construction is expected to begin in 2026 with operations commencing in 2027.

How much emissions reduction does the Manatee County RNG facility expect to achieve?

The project is expected to eliminate CO₂ equivalent to 5.3 million gallons of car gasoline each year.

What scale of energy output will the Manatee County RNG facility produce?

When operational, the facility will produce enough renewable energy to power more than 4,500 Florida homes annually.

How many jobs will the Manatee County RNG project create during construction and operations?

The project is expected to support about 50 construction jobs and create five permanent positions.