The governments of Canada and Québec applaud the opening of an organic waste reclamation centre in Saint-Hyacinthe, which is the first municipality to recover organic materials via biomethanization and to use the renewable natural gas produced to meet its energy needs. Gaz Métro is also proud to include the city as its first client municipality to have selected natural gas to fuel its municipal vehicles.
The organic waste reclamation centre was established by the municipality of Saint-Hyacinthe as part of the second phase of its project to create facilities to process organic matter through biomethanization and composting. Over the next year, the municipality will launch phase two of the biomethanization plant and, consequently, increase its capacity to process organic waste and produce more biogas.
The Government of Canada has committed to investing up to $11.4 million for the construction of the organic waste reclamation centre and the expansion of the biomethanization plant under the Green Infrastructure Fund. Besides, the Government of Quebec is contributing up to $14.4 million to this project, in addition to its $5.7 million contribution for the first phase of the project, which is being used to fund biogas treatment facilities, the natural gas refueling station and the first fleet of municipal vehicles converted to natural gas. Finally, the municipality of Saint-Hyacinthe is providing the remainder of the funding for both phases of the project, a total cost of $47.2 million.
“Gaz Métro is proud to use its gas network for this promising project, to allow all its clients to take advantage of locally produced renewable natural gas,” stated Martin Imbleau, Vice President, Development and Renewable Energies at Gaz Métro. “Choosing this energy to fuel vehicles is another step toward the intelligent and systematic recovery of organic materials in Québec, by creating an infinitely renewable cycle. We hope that this project will inspire many other municipalities to follow suit.”
Source: Government of Canadá and Gaz Métro.
