Roeslein Alternative Energy is a company that we can all be proud of for many reasons. It is a pioneer in the renewable energy space, the largest producer of ultra-low negative carbon renewable natural gas, a partner of the largest swine producer in the world, Smithfield Foods, and the second successful startup company created by our entrepreneurial founder, Rudi Roeslein. We can also say that RAE is the sum of its parts – and by parts, I mean our team of dedicated people. A few of our folks deserve a callout as we enter 2022; Dawn Null, Sara Streckfuss, and Seth Renfro. All three were recently promoted, and I want to congratulate them again for their hard work, commitment to do whatever it takes to “get it done,” and frankly, no BS approach. All three challenge me all the time, never pull punches, and set an example for all of us to follow.
The beginning of 2022 also ushered in the beginning of our new partnership, Horizon 2, LLC, with AgriReNew, or Bryan and Lisa Sievers, and their biogas project in Stockton, Iowa. This project will be our first real investment into a true Horizon 2 project, utilizing prairie biomass with manure to produce RNG. It will allow us to continue to move Rudi’s original vision forward, using land sustainably to create food, energy, and wildlife habitat. As we continue to advance these ideas and turn them into reality, the industry is taking notice, and we are starting to gain recognition nationally.
Nothing brings that to light more than our recent transaction with TPG Inc., a top 10 private equity firm that has invested nearly $200M into Monarch to become a one-third partner to RAE and Smithfield. This infusion of capital and the addition of TPG’s significant resources will enable Monarch’s continued and more rapid growth over the next few years and create a pipeline of projects for RAE and R&A to execute together and replicate the successes achieved in Missouri, all over the country. New projects will be created in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Iowa, with additional expansion into North Carolina and Colorado – really wherever Smithfield has good target farms and infrastructure. All of these projects will be folded under our operations team and will necessitate the continued growth of our organization. Today we are over sixty employees. I’ll wager we double in size by the end of 2023. This growth within Monarch is effectively Horizon 1. As we gain experience and define our Horizon 2 know-how via our project with the Sievers, we will upgrade, expand, and enhance all Horizon 1 operations with Horizon 2 solutions and begin to fully encompass Rudi’s original vision.
Lastly, stay tuned in 2022 for positive news regarding potential partnerships in the dairy industry, installation of new water purification technology with Biostar, the startup and operation of our partner’s facility in Roswell, New Mexico, Kolb BioEnergy, and the installation and startup of our new compact membrane systems for gas upgrading. There is much success to look forward to celebrating.
Please be safe and continue your hard work. Take a moment to be proud of what we have accomplished together. We are making a difference and setting an example for others to follow.
Chris Roach