South Platte Renew’s Renewable Natural Gas System has achieved full payback, and will now start generating a profit to offset costs for sewer treatment.
(Vanessa Davis/Submitted)
Englewood’s Renewable Natural Gas System has achieved a full payback — and will soon help residents to save money.
The system has fully recovered its initial $7.8 million investment. Now, it will begin generating positive revenue, which will offset sewer treatment rates in Englewood and Littleton, as well as 19 other connecting sanitary sewer districts.
The pipeline injection system, which is the first of its kind in Colorado, works by converting biogas from the wastewater treatment process into pipeline-quality renewable fuel that is injected into Xcel Energy’s pipeline.
Since becoming operational in October 2019, the system has generated approximately $11 million in total revenue. Though it was projected that the system would take seven years to pay for itself, it achieved full payback in July 2025.
The system is part of South Platte Renew, the third-largest water renewal system in Colorado. SPR is publicly owned and operated by the cities of Englewood and Littleton and cleans nearly 20 million gallons of wastewater daily from 300,000 residents in Littleton, Englewood, and 19 other connecting communities.
Going forward, the system is projected to generate approximately $2 million in revenue annually.
For Director of South Platte Renew and City of Englewood Utilities Pieter Van Ry, the system is not only a financial win, but a demonstration of positive city leadership.
“This achievement represents more than just financial success—it’s a testament to forward-thinking leadership that directly benefits our community,” Van Ry said.