Transforming Bio-Waste into Renewable Energy Solutions
For years, abundant bio-waste streams remained underutilized, their true value left untapped. Today, through innovative processes that uncover hidden potential, these discarded resources are not only a source of profit but also provide communities with renewable energy. 3 Rivers Energy Partners LLC (3 Rivers) is a renewable energy company committed to circular solutions driving the energy transition. It specializes in designing, constructing, and operating projects that bring these synergies to life.
3 Rivers delivers energy solutions to organizations by repurposing their existing bio-waste streams as feedstock for renewable energy. Notably, the company’s current projects focus on converting distillery by-products into biogas. SVP of Marketing, Kegan Rivers, emphasizes the company’s dedication to sustainability. “At 3 Rivers, we are constantly pushing sustainability forward. Our ongoing pursuit involves exploring new technologies and possibilities that allow us to extend sustainability’s reach, benefiting individuals and businesses alike, regardless of size,” he says.
This commitment to sustainability has always been central to the company’s mission. John Rivers, President, shares how his vision for a greener future led to its inception. “Before founding 3 Rivers, I started Hillstone Environmental Partners LLC (Hillstone) in 2015, focusing on oil and gas infrastructure. We built large-scale pipelines, water treatment facilities, and wastewater disposal systems, effectively recycling water from oil extraction. When I sold Hillstone in late 2019, some of my industry connections—BP, Exxon, and EOG—encouraged me to explore renewable energy. Until then, I had focused on environmentally friendly operations within oil and gas, but never on renewables. I started researching everything from wind and solar energy to hydrogen gas from landfills and dairy farms. The option that made the most sense was advanced biofuel (D5), which utilizes industrial waste. This led us to collaborate with Jack Daniel’s Ltd. and Jim Beam Ltd. shortly after,” he explains.
Tailored Technology
3 Rivers’ work with Jack Daniel’s involves converting distillery waste—known as stillage—into renewable natural gas (RNG) and affordable natural fertilizers for local farmers. This process also ensures that Jack Daniel’s maximizes its use of corn. The company anticipates producing between 900,000 and 1,100,000 MMBtus of RNG annually while supporting thousands of acres of farmland with liquid fertilizer.
John outlines the benefits distilleries can gain by partnering with 3 Rivers. “Thanks to our oil and gas background, we have extensive experience with large infrastructure projects. My partner, Dave Johnson, and I have installed thousands of miles of pipeline. This experience, combined with our strong financial backing, allows us to secure large-scale investments. Consequently, we deliver high-quality services with the resources we obtain. Another advantage is our flexibility in technology—we aren’t tied to a single solution. We work with various vendors, locations, and EPC companies, ensuring we can tailor technology to fit each project’s specific needs. This adaptability expands our problem-solving capabilities,” he explains.
The company’s expertise and financial strength played a key role in its latest RNG project with Jim Beam. The venture is currently underway, with the liquor giant’s new RNG facility expected to be fully operational by mid-2025. The renewable energy produced will power the Jim Beam Booker Noe distillery, significantly reducing the site’s carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.
Passion and Commitment
John highlights that 3 Rivers is also tackling even larger projects. “We’re collaborating with a company that operates multiple facilities across the U.S., capable of producing two to four times the amount of RNG compared to what we generate at Jim Beam or Jack Daniel’s. In addition, we’ve refined our approach when assessing these companies’ feedstock. Instead of solely relying on biomethane potential (BMP) tests, we’ve introduced a mobile digester facility that we take directly to their plants. Although compact, this facility processes feedstock at a much larger continuous scale, offering valuable insights into specific feedstock properties and handling requirements. This method provides more accurate data, which is essential for evaluating the economic viability of each project. Traditional BMP tests often result in misleading calculations, particularly in dairy farms, where initial projections may not align with actual gas yields, leading to failed projects. The RNG industry is facing a high failure rate, and we aim to address this challenge,” he states.
With its well-developed testing processes and systems trusted by major companies, 3 Rivers is well-positioned for a promising future. John shares his aspirations for the company’s next venture. “I’d love to see us expand into digestion. A significant portion of landfill waste in the U.S. is food-related. While food waste can be digested, its daily fluctuations in quantity and composition make consistent digestion challenging.
“I don’t think large-scale food waste digestion plants are feasible—we wouldn’t be able to maintain a high standard consistently, and the economics wouldn’t work. However, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. Even if food digestion isn’t perfectly efficient, making incremental progress will still have an impact. If every neighborhood had a small digester for food waste, and that waste was then transported to a central processing plant, the gas output might not be vast, but it would still help reduce landfill waste. At first, people might not use their local digester often, but over time, it would become a habit. This shift would encourage us to learn more about the digestion process and how to improve it,” he suggests.
John’s vision for efficient food digestion reflects 3 Rivers’ deep-rooted commitment to sustainability and renewable energy. Under his leadership, the company continues to transform overlooked resources into valuable solutions that benefit both communities and the climate. Its large-scale projects enable whiskey giants to embrace circular economies, while its mobile digestion trials pave the way for new industry synergies. As a dedicated pioneer in renewable energy, 3 Rivers remains at the forefront, refining sustainability solutions for a cleaner future.