Renewable energy and cow manure, used grease and fats go hand in hand nowadays since a new biogas facility west of Fort Worth has come on line.

These renewable resources, gathered mostly from Erath County dairy farms and Dallas area restaurants, are processed into biogas that is treated and compressed to produce pipeline-grade natural gas. LCRA has contracted with Microgy, Inc. for all the natural gas that it can produce from its new Huckabay Ridge facility near Stephenville.

The renewable natural gas ─ what this treated biogas is called ─ will be used to make electricity at some of LCRA’s power plants in Central Texas. By using this gas, LCRA diversifies its energy sources and increases its renewable energy portfolio, which also includes hydroelectric power and wind power.

It’s an economical way to generate electricity while avoiding putting tons of manure, grease and fat, which can potentially pollute underground water sources, into landfills.