White Paper: Harnessing the Untapped Energy Potential of America's Heartland

"Harnessing the Untapped Energy Potential of America's Heartland," authored by Vanguard Renewables' CEO, Mike O'Laughlin, reveals how America's heartland is sitting on a massive, untapped energy resource that could transform American agriculture while positioning the U.S. to dominate the rapidly expanding maritime fuel market.

The analysis shows that Midwestern agricultural waste can generate approximately 1,580 trillion Btu of renewable natural gas, over eight times the current RNG market. When liquefied into bio-LNG, it becomes a drop-in fuel enabling conventional LNG to meet low-carbon requirements without new vessels or infrastructure. However, a significant policy gap in the Renewable Fuel Standard threatens this opportunity.

This white paper includes detailed economic analysis and state-level data highlighting where this opportunity is most concentrated and how existing infrastructure could be expanded.