Clean Energy begins producing pipeline-ready RNG at major Texas dairy site

Clean Energy Fuels has started injecting renewable natural gas into the interstate pipeline from its newly completed RNG facility at South Fork Dairy in Dimmitt, Texas. The project, fully financed by the company, represents one of the largest dairy-based RNG plants in the U.S. and is designed to supply low-carbon fuel to a growing national market.

South Fork Dairy, home to 16,000 cows, can generate roughly 2.6 million gallons of RNG per year. Construction began in July 2024 and totaled $85 million, with Clean Energy set to receive 100% of the fuel output.

Clay Corbus, senior vice president at Clean Energy, said the project marks an important step in scaling the company’s low-carbon supply. “The requirements to reach production and injection milestones were extremely stringent,” he said, calling the collaboration with dairy owner Frank Brand “particularly meaningful.”

Brand said the project has created both environmental and operational benefits for the dairy. “We’re processing our manure into useful bedding and producing clean fuel for vehicles. It’s pretty amazing,” he noted.

Construction briefly paused following a fire that damaged the dairy, but operations have since been fully restored. The RNG produced at South Fork has received EPA approval to generate RINs under the Renewable Fuel Standard, with California LCFS credit generation expected in early 2026.

RNG from agricultural waste significantly reduces lifecycle emissions compared with diesel, a major reason Clean Energy continues to expand its fueling network of more than 600 stations nationwide.