Sanimax and StormFisher to invest US$160 million to build eight biogas plants

On October 7, 2008, Sanimax and StormFisher Biogas announced a strategic alliance to build eight biogas plants, for a total investment of over $160 million. These plants will transform organic by-products from the food processing industry, restaurants and institutions like schools into renewable energy and organic fertilizer. Once operational, these eight plants will offset the carbon dioxide equivalent of 120,000 tonnes and divert half a million tonnes of organic by-products every year, creating enough energy to power 20,000 homes. Biogas plants naturally decompose matter into nutrient-rich solids and liquids-which can be used to help grow agricultural crops and residential gardens-and into methane, a biological replacement for natural gas. Effective immediately, the two companies will jointly pursue partnerships with major food processing companies to source this material for its plants, which will be located in the Great Lakes region. The first plant will be located at a site yet to be determined in Wisconsin and will process materials from Sanimax's De Forest facility, among others. Sanimax was advised in this matter by Sean Stevens and Kathleen Yoa of Fasken Martineau.