Initiative Focused on Providing up to 50% of The Gas Company’s Utility Gas from Renewable Sources within Five Years
HONOLULU--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Gas Company LLC, (TGC) Hawaii’s clean gas energy provider, and Primoris Renewables, a subsidiary of Primoris Services Corporation (Nasdaq: PRIM) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding that is expected to lead to a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to increase the renewable components in TGC’s gas supply.
The companies are developing technology to reduce further TGC’s carbon footprint, by incorporating domestically produced alternatives to petroleum for gas supply in Hawaii.
“Jointly with Primoris, we are adapting our unique Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) technology to utilize agricultural feedstock, rather than petroleum, as we meet the needs of Hawaii’s residents and business for low cost, clean gas energy,” said Jeffrey Kissel, president and CEO of The Gas Company. “With more than 60 years’ experience in the energy sector, Primoris is the ideal partner for us to adapt our hydrogen-based technology to reduce Hawaii’s dependence on foreign sourced oil.”
The MOU focuses on development of production facilities at TGC’s SNG Plant to process agricultural products and landfill gas into bio-methane, renewable diesel or similar products. It also addresses the improvement of energy and economic efficiency of operations at the SNG Plant.
TGC owns and operates the only SNG plant in the United States. The plant utilizes a catalytic process to convert the byproducts of petroleum refining into methane (chemically identically to natural gas) and hydrogen for distribution to its customers in metropolitan Honolulu. The process utilizes recycled wastewater to produce hydrogen for about 5% of the utility gas supply. In addition, the plant captures CO2 produced in the process and recycles it to nearby industrial users for dry ice, carbonation and other uses. For more information, visit www.HawaiiGas.com
Primoris Renewables, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Primoris Services Corporation, utilizes its long history of engineering and construction experience in the power and energy industries to focus on developing, funding, acquiring and operating renewable energy projects around the world.
“We are pleased to work with The Gas Company to develop the means to create synthetic natural gas from domestic feedstock sources, thus enriching the renewable component of TGC’s utility gas,” said Brian Pratt, CEO of Primoris. “Increasingly, energy providers will be asked to provide more renewable power. We intend to be on the leading edge of that movement, with our TGC relationship serving as a significant first step in attaining critical mass in developing and perfecting the process.”
The Gas Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Infrastructure Company (NYSE: MIC). MIC owns, operates, and invests in a diversified group of infrastructure businesses that provide basic services to customers across the United States. For more information, visit www.macquarie.com/mic
Primoris Services Corporation (FY 2008 revenues: $610 million) is a holding company of various subsidiaries, which cumulatively form one of the largest specialty contractors and engineering companies in the Western United States, primarily serving the growing power and energy sectors. Primoris provides a wide range of construction, fabrication, maintenance and replacement services, as well as engineering services to major public utilities, petrochemical companies, energy companies, municipalities and other customers. For more information, visit www.primoriscorp.com
