As part of its “manure-to-energy” project, Smithfield Foods Inc. announced on Aug. 5 that it connected a low-pressure natural gas transmission line from a company hog farm to the Milan, Missouri, natural gas pipeline. Smithfield said that the renewable natural gas produced at the hog farm goes directly into the city’s natural gas distribution system prior to delivery…Last April, Smithfield partnered with Monarch Bioenergy [a joint venture between Smithfield and ABC member Roeslein Alternative Energy] for similar projects across Missouri. When the joint venture is complete, Smithfield said it expects to produce 1.3 million dekatherms of RNG annually, which is the equivalent to eliminating 130,000 gasoline vehicles. More >>