Chatham-Kent council has approved moving forward with a major waste-to-energy project that will see the construction and operation of an anaerobic digestion facility in Chatham.
The decision came during an April 27, 2026 meeting, following a report from Chief Financial Officer Gord Quinton outlining the financial structure, environmental benefits and long-term projections of the project.
The facility will be located at 175 Bloomfield Rd. and developed in partnership with the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission and Greenfield Global Inc. It is designed to convert organic waste into renewable natural gas while reducing landfill use and greenhouse gas emissions.
The project is part of the municipality’s broader climate strategy after council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and identified waste management as a priority area.
Administration says the plant will process approximately 370,000 wet tonnes of organic waste, the majority coming from the Greenfield ethanol plant and municipal sewage sludge from the Irwin Street wastewater treatment plant.
The process will produce both renewable natural gas and digestate, which can be used as agricultural fertilizer.
Officials say the facility could be operational by the end of 2028 and is expected to create construction jobs, with materials sourced locally where possible. Once complete, the plant is expected to employ about 30 full-time workers and operate continuously.
Administration says the project represents a long-term revenue opportunity for the municipality, estimating more than $123 million in dividends over 30 years under a conservative financial model.
That model assumes lower-end pricing for renewable natural gas and accounts for contingencies in construction and operating costs to ensure viability even under less favourable conditions.
Officials note there is potential for higher returns, pointing to recent spikes in renewable natural gas market prices.
The project has also secured approximately $60 million in funding from upper levels of government, including support through federal clean fuel programs and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Council also approved financing measures, including borrowing through Infrastructure Ontario, as well as zoning changes required to permit the facility.
An independent review by Deloitte concluded the project is viable and recommended proceeding.
Administration has been working on the initiative for five years alongside Greenfield Global and consultants, refining costs, securing funding and addressing potential risks ahead of council’s final decision.
More details can be found, here.
