The Gas Company LLC said it is working with California-based Primoris Renewables on an initiative to provide up to half of its utility gas from renewable sources within five years.

A memorandum of understanding between the two firms announced today focuses on development of production facilities at The Gas Company's synthetic natural gas plant to process agricultural products and landfill gas into bio-methane, renewable diesel or similar products. It also addresses the improvement of energy and economic efficiency of operations at the plant.

"Jointly with Primoris, we are adapting our unique synthetic natural gas technology to utilize agricultural feedstock, rather than petroleum, as we meet the needs of Hawai'i's residents and business for low-cost, clean gas energy," said Jeffrey Kissel, president and CEO of The Gas Company.

"With more than 60 years experience in the energy sector, Primoris is the ideal partner for us to adapt our hydrogen-based technology to reduce Hawai'i's dependence on foreign sourced oil."

The Gas Company owns and operates the only synthetic natural gas plant in the United States at Campbell Industrial Park. The plant uses a catalytic process to convert the byproducts of petroleum refining into methane — chemically identically to natural gas — and hydrogen for distribution to its customers in Honolulu, the company said in a news release.

The process uses recycled wastewater to produce hydrogen for about 5 percent of the utility gas supply. In addition, the plant captures carbon dioxide produced in the process and recycles it to nearby industrial users for dry ice, carbonation and other uses.

Primoris Renewables, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lake Forest, Calif.-based Primoris Services Corp., has experience in engineering and construction in the power and energy industries.

"We are pleased to work with The Gas Company to develop the means to create synthetic natural gas from domestic feedstock sources, thus enriching the renewable component of TGC's utility gas," said Brian Pratt, chief executive officer of Primoris.

"Increasingly, energy providers will be asked to provide more renewable power. We intend to be on the leading edge of that movement, with our TGC relationship serving as a significant first step in attaining critical mass in developing and perfecting the process."

The Gas Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Infrastructure Co., which owns, operates and invests in a diversified group of infrastructure businesses that provide basic services to customers across the United States.

The Gas Company has more than 40,000 commercial and residential utility and nonutility customers statewide.