SJI, an energy infrastructure company based in Folsom, New Jersey, and REV LNG, an energy supplier in Ulysses, Pennsylvania, recently broke ground on renewable natural gas (RNG) facilities at four Michigan-based dairy farms. The projects mark the partners’ first series of renewable energy projects to break ground outside of the Northeast region.

According to a news release from SJI, the projects will include constructing 2 million-gallon anaerobic digesters and related RNG facilities to capture methane produced by cow manure at each of the four farms. 

The projects will also implement equipment that cleans the digester-produced biogas, transforming it into commercial-grade pipeline-quality RNG. REV LNG has led early-stage development for SJI and will preside over the construction of the RNG facilities, expected to be operational by late 2022.

“REV LNG is committed to implementing creative energy solutions that help our company and the clients we serve to reduce our carbon footprints,” says David Kailbourne, CEO of REV LNG. “I am thrilled to see these projects break ground and look forward to REV LNG and SJI’s continued partnership in this area of interest. In addition, I’d like to thank the families at Double Eagle, Roto-Z, Goma and Z-Star farms for bringing these projects to life.”

Together, the four sustainable, family-owned farms will help to produce nearly 3 million therms of RNG per year. SJI says 3 million therms of RNG is enough to offset the negative environmental impact of 1.8 million gallons of gasoline consumed per year within the United States.

SJI and REV LNG had also recently announced plans to begin construction on an RNG facility at Oakridge Dairy, a large dairy farm in Connecticut.

“SJI recognizes that to achieve our goal of 100 percent carbon reduction by 2040, working collaboratively with organizations that share our same mission is critical,” says Mike Renna, president and CEO of SJI. “With that, SJI is proud to partner with REV LNG and dairy farms across the nation on these innovative clean energy projects that I am confident will result in positive environmental outcomes for the regions we serve and beyond.”

Clean Earth, a division of Harsco Corp. and a provider of environmental and regulated waste management services, has won a 2021 Sustainability, Environmental Achievement & Leadership (SEAL) Business Sustainability Award for its Fullcircle program.

SEAL is an environmental advocacy organization that honors leadership through its award programs, including the business sustainability awards.

According to a news release from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based Clean Earth, the 2021 SEAL Sustainability Award honorees included global brands such as Disney, General Motors, Salesforce and Samsung. It was judged by 10 sustainability and environmental, social and governance experts. 

“It is an honor for our Fullcircle Advanced Waste Lifecycle Program to be recognized by SEAL for its steadfast commitment to the environment and sustainability, with our customers’ waste goals in mind,” says David Stanton, president of Clean Earth. “At a time when consumers are increasingly prioritizing sustainability, we’re excited to continue the program’s momentum into the new year by making it easy for our customers to not only properly manage their difficult-to-treat waste but also remain a trusted partner in their waste management journey.”

Fullcircle analyzes waste at each source, then offers solutions for recycling and beneficial reuse alternatives for the material. From initial product concept to life cycle completion, the program aims to provide solutions that eliminate waste, recycle as much as possible and build a scalable program for customers focused on zero waste.

Bandit Industries, a wood waste and arboriculture equipment manufacturer based in Remus, Michigan, has acquired Trelan Co., a tree chipper manufacturer based in Remus. Bandit purchased the assets and properties of Trelan from the Schumacher family Dec. 22.

According to a news release from Bandit, the company will continue to produce the Trelan products and market them as Trelan machines produced by Bandit. Bandit will use the company’s 45,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and 10,000 square feet of storage buildings to continue to make Trelan machines and additional Bandit machines.

Bandit completed three plant expansions in 2021. The company says it will complete two more plant expansions in the first quarter of 2022. Overall, the company plans to spend $16.5 million on capital expenditures in 2022.

Bandit now employs 610 people, up from 450 employees in 2020. Bandit says it has 110 job openings and plans to increase employment to 800 employees by the end of 2022.

London-based Vesuvius plc, a supplier of equipment and technology to scrap-fed electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers, has acquired Pennsylvania-based Universal Refractories Inc. The transaction has been announced by Cleveland-based Brown Gibbons Lang & Co. (BGL).

BGL, which describes Universal as a specialty refractory producer, says Vesuvius acquired it for $57.1 million on a cash and debt-free basis in a transaction that was funded from Vesuvius’ internal resources.

Founded in 1957 and based in Wampum, Pennsylvania, Universal Refractories manufactures specialty refractory performance technology for the steel and foundry industries. The company operates two facilities in Pennsylvania consisting of more than 240,000 square feet of production and warehousing space.

“Universal is a strategically important acquisition for Vesuvius, which significantly expands Vesuvius’ North American presence amongst EAF steel producers in our focus area of steel tundish applications, while also further strengthening our foundry business,” says Vesuvius CEO Patrick André.

Vesuvius describes itself as a global leader in molten metal flow engineering and technology principally serving the steel and foundry industries. The company’s North American operations include facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

BGL’s Metals & Metals Processing and Engineered Materials investment banking teams served as the exclusive financial advisor to Vesuvius on the acquisition, says BGL, which adds, “This transaction highlights the deep experience of the BGL team with businesses operating in the mills and foundries sector.”