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Air Liquide Acquires Renewable Natural Gas Plant from Jacoby Energy

Dépèche transmise le 8 mars 2012 par Business Wire

Air Liquide Acquires Renewable Natural Gas Plant from Jacoby Energy

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Air Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. LLC (“Air Liquide”) today announced that it has purchased the renewable natural gas assets of Georecover – Live Oak, LLC, a subsidiary of Jacoby Energy Development, Inc., a Georgia-based company which recovers and processes landfill exhaust gas into renewable natural gas, sometimes referred to as biomethane.

“This acquisition further establishes Air Liquide as a leader in clean energy solutions and helps position us for increased growth in this important marketplace. We continue to develop and offer innovative solutions to meet the needs of customers and help ensure reliable and clean energy for our nation.”

Included in the sale was the company’s landfill gas processing facility in Conley, Ga., near Atlanta. The Conley facility, which uses Air Liquide’s proprietary MEDAL membrane technology, processes all of the landfill gas from the adjacent Live Oak landfill, generating up to 1,500 MWh of renewable natural gas daily to be transported via pipeline. This natural gas can be used as a feedstock for renewable hydrogen, renewable compressed or liquefied natural gas or to generate renewable electricity.

The acquisition demonstrates the Air Liquide Group’s global strategy of bringing sustainable, clean energy solutions to customers worldwide. The target markets include manufacturers and retailers that have committed to utilizing an increasing percentage of their raw materials from renewable sources, as well as municipalities and state governments.

Said Michael Graff, president and CEO of American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc.: “This acquisition further establishes Air Liquide as a leader in clean energy solutions and helps position us for increased growth in this important marketplace. We continue to develop and offer innovative solutions to meet the needs of customers and help ensure reliable and clean energy for our nation.”

Air Liquide technology is at the heart of Air Liquide’s MEDAL membranes and patented biogas system. These innovations are part of an advanced, turn-key clean energy offering that can produce pipeline-ready natural gas from municipal solid waste from landfills, agricultural waste and wastewater treatment gases to fuel a variety of sustainable clean energy solutions.

Also commenting was James F. Jacoby, chairman and CEO of The Jacoby Group: “Developing the Live Oak landfill gas facility was a natural outgrowth of our commitment to sustainability and renewable energy. I am pleased to see this important project pass into the hands of another company committed to sustainability, Air Liquide.”

There are approximately 20 landfill gas-to-renewable natural gas sites operating in the U.S. today. Most of the sites installed since 2006 are utilizing proprietary membrane technology supplied by Air Liquide’s MEDAL division.

Jacoby Energy Development, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Jacoby Development Group based in Atlanta, Ga.

Air Liquide in the U.S.

Air Liquide companies in the U.S. employ about 5,000 employees in over 200 locations, and offer industrial gases, equipment and related services to customers in the large industries, industrial merchant, electronics and healthcare markets.

Air Liquide’s Industrial Merchant business is present throughout the U.S. providing gases in bulk tankers or in cylinders to diverse sectors in automotive, manufacturing, food, pharmaceuticals, materials, energy, technology, research and to distributors.

Industrial gases optimize production processes, enhance safety and improve product quality.

Air Liquide is the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, and is present in 80 countries with 46,200 employees. Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and rare gases have been at the core of Air Liquide’s activities since its creation in 1902. Using these molecules, Air Liquide continuously reinvents its business, anticipating the needs of current and future markets. The Group innovates to enable progress, to achieve dynamic growth and a consistent performance.

Innovative technologies that curb polluting emissions, lower industry’s energy use, recover and reuse natural resources or develop the energies of tomorrow, such as hydrogen, biofuels or photovoltaic energy… Oxygen for hospitals, homecare, fighting nosocomial infections…Air Liquide combines many products and technologies to develop valuable applications and services not only for its customers but also for society.

A partner for the long term, Air Liquide relies on employee commitment, customer trust and shareholder support to pursue its vision of sustainable, competitive growth. The diversity of Air Liquide’s teams, businesses, markets and geographic presence provides a solid and sustainable base for its development and strengthens its ability to push back its own limits, conquer new territories and build its future.

Air Liquide explores the best that air can offer to preserve life, staying true to its Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainable development approach. In 2011, the Group’s revenues amounted to €14.5 billion, of which more than 80% were generated outside France. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (compartment A) and is a member of the CAC 40 and Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 indexes.