Green ERA creates sustainable communities by supporting local food production through better management of organic, biodegradable waste and access to nutrient dense soil.
Renewable Energy
Green Era is developing a renewable energy facility in South Chicago. The project will be located on a vacant brownfield site in an area with urgent need for cleanup and economic development. Using anaerobic digestion, Green Era will divert inedible food waste from landfills to produce clean, renewable energy and nutrient-rich soil, which will be used as a critically needed input in the expansion of fresh local food production. The end result will have positive social and environmental impacts, while also creating jobs, sustainable neighborhoods and healthier lifestyles.
Anaerobic Digestion is a proven technology widely used to manage organic waste and to produce energy. In Europe, there are more than 10,000 anaerobic digesters in operation, creating clean energy, biogas and nutrient rich soil for urban communities to grow produce. Green Era will bring this technology to Chicago’s Southside to eliminate waste, create beautiful urban farms and provide employment opportunities.
Green Era partnered with community organizations on the Southside to create a diverse team to transform our brownfield site into a lush, urban farm with educational opportunities for teens.
Nearly 40% of food processed in the U.S. is never consumed and 97% of food waste is landfilled. Food waste represents the single largest solid waste stream reaching landfills. Learn about how Green Era Sustainability is positioned to help avert this crisis.
Green Era Sustainability is using tried and true technology to reduce food waste, generate clean energy and create nutrient-rich compost in Chicago. In Europe alone, over 10,000 digesters are operational. Anaerobic digesters are also located in the United States; over 300 are operating in states including Wisconsin, Kansas and Texas. In fact, over 30 states in the union have digesters.
Did you know that Chicagoans produce nearly 55 million pounds of food waste each month? Green Era’s goal is to divert organic waste to decrease biodegradable materials in our landfills, while harnessing the benefits to create clean energy and compost for local, urban farms.
Green Era will create over 247 short-term construction jobs and 25 full-time digester-related jobs in Chicago. We are committed to engaging Minority & Women Business Entities and hiring from “hard to employ” populations.
