Dive Brief:

• Waste Management partnered with Velocys, NRG Energy and Ventech Engineers International to build small-scale gas-to-liquid (GTL) facilities in the U.S.
• The venture announced that the construction of a plant in Oklahoma City, OK is underway. The project is located at the site of Waste Management's East Oak landfill. 
• The GTL facility is expected to begin operations in under 24 months. 

Dive Insight:

The GTL plant will make biogas and natural gas from landfill gas, and transform it into renewable fuel and chemicals. Prior to the group finalizing its decision to move forward with plans, a demo plant was built and operated. The announcement to proceed with the GTL plans comes days after Waste Management sold its group of waste-to-energy facilities, Wheelabrator Technologies, for $1.94 billion. The company has said it wants to shift its focus to its core business using the profits from the sale.