Key Takeaways
- Vermont Renewable Gas, an affiliate of Clean Energy Technologies, signed an MOU with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets governing agricultural safeguards for a 2.2 MW renewable energy project in Lyndon.
- The agreement, filed with the Vermont Public Utility Commission, resolves agricultural impact concerns under Vermont's Section 248 permitting process and is described as a significant milestone toward project approval.
- Primary agricultural soils disturbed during construction must be fully preserved, tested, and restored to productive condition, including after eventual project decommissioning.
- Biochar produced at the facility will be subject to comprehensive testing for PFAS, heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs, and other contaminants, with distribution prohibited if any thresholds are exceeded.
- VRG must maintain feedstock traceability, notify regulators of operational changes, and submit regular testing data as conditions of the agreement.
Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: CETY), a clean energy solutions provider focused on converting waste and heat into power and fuels, announced that its affiliate Vermont Renewable Gas (VRG) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The agreement establishes agricultural and soil protection conditions for VRG's proposed 2.2 MW renewable energy facility in Lyndon, Vermont, and has been filed with the Vermont Public Utility Commission as part of the project's ongoing regulatory review.
CETY's MoU: A Key Milestone in Vermont's Section 248 Review
The MOU represents a full resolution of agricultural impact issues associated with the Lyndon project and sets out binding conditions that VRG must satisfy throughout the facility's construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning. The Vermont Public Utility Commission continues its broader review of the project under Section 248 of Vermont law, which governs the siting of energy facilities in the state. The company said that compliance with the MOU's conditions is expected to demonstrate that the project will avoid undue adverse impact on primary agricultural soils, a statutory threshold under the Section 248 framework.
Soil Protection Requirements
Under the terms of the agreement, primary agricultural soils affected by construction must be preserved and managed in accordance with Vermont agricultural standards. Pre- and post-construction soil testing is required, with strict limits placed on compaction. Any land disturbed during construction must be reclaimed and returned to a productive agricultural state, and this obligation extends through project decommissioning. The conditions are designed to ensure that affected farmland remains viable for future agricultural use throughout and beyond the project's lifespan.
Biochar Safety and Feedstock Controls
The facility will produce biochar as a byproduct of its renewable energy operations. The MOU establishes a testing and monitoring regime covering PFAS compounds, heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs, and other contaminants. Distribution of biochar is prohibited if test results exceed applicable regulatory thresholds. Acceptable feedstock is also defined under the agreement, with treated wood, plastics, and contaminated materials explicitly excluded. VRG must maintain traceability records for all feedstock sources and notify regulators of any material changes to operations or sourcing.
“These conditions ensure a high standard of accountability,” said Kam Mahdi, CEO of Clean Energy Technologies. “We are committed to ensuring that this project operates safely, protects Vermont's agricultural resources, and meets the expectations of regulators and the community.”
Clean Energy Technologies' Vermont Renewable Gas Project
The Lyndon facility is part of Clean Energy Technologies' broader strategy to deploy waste-to-energy and heat-recovery solutions. Vermont Renewable Gas is pursuing the project as a source of renewable power generation, with biochar production as a co-product. The company said the MOU framework is among the most detailed agricultural and biochar safety agreements in the region, and positions the project to advance through the remaining stages of state regulatory review.
