Next Renewable Fuels subsidiary acquires Red Rock Biofuels assets in Oregon

The Red Rock Biofuels project site in Oregon (Photo: Red Rock Biofuels)

Lakeview RNG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Next Renewable Fuels, has acquired assets associated with the Red Rock Biofuels development in Lake County, Oregon, effective April 14.

Lakeview RNG is commencing a redevelopment plan focused on completing construction of certain aspects of the site while replacing or enhancing others.

When complete, the Lakeview RNG facility is expected to be capable of converting forest waste into renewable natural gas (RNG) and clean hydrogen.

“Acquiring the Lake County clean-fuels infrastructure is another advancement in our mission to decarbonize the transportation industry and produce low-carbon fuels at scale,” said Christopher Efird, CEO and chairperson of Next. “This acquisition represents a major step toward our clean-fuel production capabilities and pathways to meet growing demand for clean fuels along the West Coast of the United States while helping to address the critical concern of forest health.”

Lakeview RNG will use wood waste, or “slash,” as the feedstock.

Wood waste can come from activities like forest thinning, logging and wildfire-management activities on private and state lands.

Today, that waste is largely burned in open slash piles, and the subsequent black carbon lands in rivers, on snowpack and in the lungs of those in the community.

Instead, Lakeview RNG will process that wood waste and turn it into a low-carbon gaseous fuel, benefitting environmental and community health in southern Oregon and beyond.

“Lakeview RNG acquiring Lake County’s clean-fuels facility is fantastic news for our region,” said State Sen. Lynn Findley. “Lakeview RNG will bring the promised jobs and tax revenue to the county while finding a clean-fuel benefit to our state’s wildfire-mitigation efforts.”

Findley isn’t the only one celebrating. Local Lake County residents and leaders are pleased that the facility has new life, and that the promises of economic development will finally be realized.

“We have been anxiously awaiting this day and are very happy that the facility will be put into operation rather than sold for parts,” said Michele Parry, Lakeview city manager. “Lakeview’s location is strategically important because of our proximity to regenerative-feedstock sources and to the pipeline-distribution system that can get the clean fuels to market.”

Lakeview RNG has evaluated the potential feedstock supply in Oregon and determined that all of its wood-waste needs could come from within 150 miles of the facility.

Wood waste used at the facility will be certified and compliant with applicable regulations for RNG production.

Converting forest waste to renewable fuel products helps reduce forest fire fuel loads and provide an additional revenue source to timber communities.

The local distribution network in Lake County is anchored by the Ruby pipeline and can deliver renewable fuels to transportation markets in Oregon and along the West Coast.

The purchase price of the facility has not been disclosed.

Next is permitting and developing a 750-million gallon-per-year renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) refinery in Oregon with multimodal access to the West Coast demand markets.

The project is advancing through permitting and the company expects to begin construction upon completion of an environmental-impact statement currently underway with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.