Campbell Soup Company and Ch4 Biogas, L.L.C. Create Ohio’s First Commercial Biogas Power Plant

Renewable energy technology will divert waste from local landfills and become a sustainable energy source for Campbell’s Napoleon facility

CAMDEN, N.J., Nov. 5, 2012 /3BL Media/ - Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) today announced a partnership with CH4 Biogas L.L.C. (CH4), to create Ohio’s first commercial biogas power plant to generate renewable electricity. Campbell will direct waste generated from its soup, sauce and beverage production in Napoleon, Ohio, diverting 35 to 50 percent of its current waste away from Henry County landfills.

The anaerobic digester will process material from area food processors, waste recyclers and local dairy farms, generating methane gas which will be used to fuel turbines that will produce energy for Campbell’s existing beverage production and offsetting fossil fuel use. The power generated for the beverage facility will replace about 25 percent of Campbell’s Napoleon facility’s annual electricity use. A 15-year power purchase and services agreement will allow Campbell to use 100 percent of the electricity generated at a flat cost.

“This new biogas technology will improve Campbell’s Napoleon recycling rate to approximately 95 percent, reaching the company’s 2020 destination goal for the site early,” said Dave Stangis, Campbell’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Corporate Responsibility, Campbell Soup Company. “The use of biogas energy will reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of electricity in this facility by approximately 16,000 metric tons per year, or the equivalent of 3,000 cars.”

The biogas power plant, Napoleon Biogas, will be located on more than seven acres of land directly across the street from the Campbell site in Harrison Township. CH4 designed, owns and operates the site, acting as stewards of the land, protecting the watershed, and recycling and processing the organic waste in an environmentally sustainable way. Other area industry and farming operations will also be able to leverage the facility, as the digester is designed to handle approximately 450 tons of mixed waste organic material a day, leaving 60 percent available capacity. 

“CH4 is proud to partner with Campbell to bring Ohio its first commercial biogas based renewable energy facility,” said Lauren Toretta, Vice President CH4. “The conversion of waste to energy brings broad reaching benefits to the region and is a progressive step towards sustainable renewable energy solutions.”

Construction is underway and slated for completion in mid-2013. The project is financed by EKF (Eksport Kredit Fonden), the Danish state export credit agency, which will provide a debt guaranty on the financing and with investments from CH4 Biogas and BNB Napoleon Biogas.

The site is adjacent to a 60-acre, 9.8 MW solar system constructed by BNB Renewable Energy Holdings for Campbell in 2011 that currently provides 15 percent of power for Campbell’s Napoleon facility. These efforts reflect the company’s commitment to sustainable energy production in the areas of solar, wind and anaerobic digestion. 

Campbell’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies are intended to make positive impacts in four key areas: Our Consumers, Our Planet, Our Employees and Our Community. To learn more visit http://www.campbellsoupcompany.com/csr

About Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company is a manufacturer and marketer of high-quality foods and simple meals, including soup and sauces, baked snacks and healthy beverages. Founded in 1869, the company has a portfolio of market-leading brands, including "Campbell's," "Pepperidge Farm," "Arnott's," "V8" and "Bolthouse Farms." Through its corporate social responsibility program, the company strives to make a positive impact in the workplace, in the marketplace and in the communities in which it operates. Campbell is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. For more information, visit www.campbellsoup.com.

About CH4 Biogas LLC

CH4 Biogas is a renewable energy company that builds, owns and operates biogas based renewable energy facilities on farms and at food processing plants. These facilities provide environmentally friendly renewable energy and sustainable waste management solutions using internationally proven anaerobic digestion technology. More information is available on the company’s website www.ch4biogas.com and on Twitter @ch4biogas.