Synthica Energy Begins Construction on New RNG Facility in Texas

Synthica Energy broke ground on a new renewable natural gas (RNG) plant in San Antonio, TX—Synthica San Antonio. Regional business leaders, as well as Synthica co-founders Grant Gibson and Sam Schutte, put first shovels in the ground at a project slated for completion in 2026. The facility is the first-of-its-kind in San Antonio and may divert nearly 250,000 tons of waste from local landfills each year.

“Synthica Energy is redefining organic waste management, and the benefits are clear – environmental stewardship, community investment, job creation, and more,” said Grant Gibson, Co-Founder and Chief Development Officer of Synthica Energy. “We’re building a national platform that’s fusing new technology with environmental consciousness and sustainability and creating a mutually beneficial opportunity for the markets we’re serving.”

First shovels put in the ground at Synthica San Antonio; Image Credits: Business Wire

Food and beverage manufacturers, and other customers, will have less distance to transport waste, cutting down emissions and lowering costs. Through the sustainable disposal of organic byproducts, the anaerobic digestion facility will generate RNG while eliminating CO₂ and methane from the atmosphere. The anaerobic digester, like the one under-construction in San Antonio, will utilize technology that transforms waste into renewable energy. Advanced storage, odor control, and pre-treatment options, that became available as the technology evolved, allow digesters to be compatible with urban areas.

“We chose San Antonio because there’s a significant manufacturing and food and beverage presence here, and because there’s an environment of entrepreneurship and innovation that welcomes ideas and provides a pathway to success,” said Sam Schutte, Co-Founder and CEO of Synthica Energy. “For months now, our Synthica team has been reaching out to and meeting with businesses across the San Antonio region. We can help them better manage their waste and bring this community the chance to create an eco-friendlier footprint.”

Synthica San Antonio is the company’s second RNG facility—last year, construction began on Synthica St. Bernard in Cincinnati, OH, which may be operational in early 2025. In addition to Cincinnati and San Antonio, development targets include Houston, Atlanta, Louisville, and New Orleans. In the near-future, Synthica also plans to develop clean energy facilities in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, New York, and Pennsylvania.

“Food waste has become a national problem, and this first-of-its-kind facility in San Antonio provides business leaders with a sustainable solution,” added Schutte. “This future site of Synthica San Antonio has a long history of heavy fossil fuel industry use. With Synthica’s investment, it will now be used for sustainable clean energy production and recycling. That kind of transformation is game-changing and we’re proud to be a part of it.”