BioTown Biogas Taps Veteran Exec to Lead Carbon-Negative Energy Push

REYNOLDS, IN – January 21, 2026 – In a significant move signaling accelerated growth, renewable energy producer BioTown Biogas has appointed Christopher J. Pino as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment places a seasoned energy infrastructure executive at the helm of one of the world's largest on-farm biodigesters, positioning the company to expand its leadership in converting agricultural waste into carbon-negative renewable natural gas (RNG).

Pino’s arrival comes as BioTown, a portfolio company of sustainable infrastructure private equity firm Green Rock Energy Partners, aims to scale its innovative operations and further capitalize on the surging demand for clean energy solutions derived from the circular economy.

A Strategic Leader for an Expanding Mission

Christopher J. Pino joins BioTown Biogas after a distinguished career spanning nearly 15 years at South Jersey Industries (SJI), an energy infrastructure holding company. His deep expertise is rooted in strategic development and a hands-on approach to growing renewable energy ventures. At SJI, he held several key leadership positions, including Vice President of Strategy and Development and, notably, Vice President of Renewables, where he directly oversaw the company's clean energy initiatives.

His track record includes significant involvement in expanding SJI's RNG portfolio through its clean energy subsidiary. Pino was instrumental in the early development phases of over 20 projects at large dairy farms across the United States, which collectively support approximately 2.7 million MMBtu of RNG production. This experience directly aligns with BioTown's core business of converting livestock manure into valuable energy.

Furthermore, Pino served on the board of Catamaran Renewables, a joint venture between SJI and renewable operator Captona, which focuses on developing and operating assets like fuel cells and solar-plus-storage plants. He was also connected to the development of the landmark Linden Renewable Energy project in New Jersey, a facility poised to become one of the nation's largest food waste-to-RNG plants. This background provides him with a comprehensive understanding of the entire waste-to-value ecosystem, from agricultural sources to large-scale urban food waste processing.

Stakeholders view his appointment as a clear signal of intent to scale. “Chris’s deep industry knowledge, decades of experience, and growth-oriented vision made him the clear-cut favorite to serve as BioTown’s next CEO,” said Martin Mitchell, a Managing Partner at Green Rock Energy Partners. “Chris knows what it takes to not just grow renewable energy firms, but ensure firms find new, innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint. We are thrilled to have Chris lead the firm into its next chapter.”

Brian Furrer, President of Bio Town Ag, Inc., echoed this sentiment, stating, “It is a privilege to have Chris lead our team. We are excited about the expertise he brings and are looking forward to the opportunities he can develop.”

In a statement, Pino expressed his enthusiasm for the new role. “My career has centered around growing businesses that are advancing renewable energy solutions, so joining BioTown as CEO is a perfect fit and an opportunity to be a part of a company pioneering truly groundbreaking technologies,” he said. “I look forward to leading BioTown as it continues to scale its renewable initiatives, unlocking multiple value streams from agricultural waste and delivering market-driven clean energy solutions.”

Powering the Future with Circular Agriculture

At the heart of this leadership transition is BioTown Biogas's remarkable facility in Reynolds, Indiana. Described as one of the largest on-farm biodigesters in the world, it serves as a powerful example of circular agriculture in action. The operation processes a massive volume of organic material, annually converting approximately 250,000 tons of dairy and beef manure and 36,000 tons of food waste into valuable resources.

The output is twofold: the facility generates enough renewable natural gas to heat 4,000 homes and enough renewable electricity to power 1,500 homes. This dual-stream production diversifies its revenue and enhances its contribution to the grid. The company's claim of producing carbon-negative natural gas is a key differentiator. This is achieved by capturing methane from manure and other organic waste—a greenhouse gas over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term—that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere. By converting this potent pollutant into fuel, the process results in a net reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to the baseline scenario, earning it a negative carbon intensity score under regulatory frameworks.

This waste-to-value model doesn't end with energy production. The byproduct of the anaerobic digestion process, known as digestate, is a nutrient-rich, pathogen-free fertilizer. This material can be returned to farmland, improving soil health and reducing the need for synthetic, fossil-fuel-based fertilizers, thereby closing the agricultural loop.

The Booming Market for Green Gas

Pino takes the helm at a pivotal moment for the RNG industry. The global market is experiencing explosive growth, driven by a convergence of environmental mandates, corporate sustainability goals, and powerful economic incentives. One market report projects the global RNG market to reach $11.2 billion by 2030, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of over 10%.

This expansion is heavily supported by government policies. In the United States, the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program creates significant demand by allowing RNG used as transportation fuel to generate valuable credits known as Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). At the state level, programs like California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) provide an additional, often more lucrative, incentive for fuels with the lowest carbon intensity scores. RNG derived from agricultural waste consistently achieves some of the lowest scores, making it a highly sought-after commodity for decarbonizing the heavy-duty transportation sector.

Beyond transportation, utility companies are increasingly looking to procure RNG to blend into existing natural gas pipelines, helping them meet their own decarbonization targets and offer greener products to their customers. BioTown's established operations and proven technology place it in a prime position to meet this growing demand.

Private Equity Fueling Sustainable Infrastructure

The strategic appointment of a new CEO is also a reflection of the vision held by BioTown's owner, Green Rock Energy Partners. As a private equity firm specializing in sustainable infrastructure, Green Rock's investment thesis is centered on identifying and scaling companies within the waste-to-value sector. These assets are critical components of the circular economy and the broader transition to a low-carbon future.

By bringing in a leader with Pino's specific track record in growing renewable energy ventures, Green Rock is signaling its commitment to aggressively expanding BioTown's footprint. The move illustrates a broader trend where private capital is flowing into green infrastructure, providing the necessary funding to develop complex, capital-intensive projects like large-scale biodigesters.

BioTown operates in a competitive but collaborative industry. Other major players, such as Brightmark Energy, Dominion Energy, and Archaea Energy (now part of BP), are also developing numerous RNG projects, primarily from landfill and agricultural sources. However, BioTown's scale, its established model in Indiana, and its focus on a fully integrated circular agricultural system provide a strong foundation for future growth and replication.

With experienced leadership, proven technology, and robust financial backing, BioTown Biogas is poised to not only expand its own operations but also to serve as a replicable model for how modern agriculture can be a solution to, rather than a source of, environmental challenges. The company's trajectory under Pino's guidance will be closely watched by the energy and agriculture sectors as a key indicator of the future of renewable energy in America's heartland.