Renewable Fuels Engineer Richard DeGarmo Joins The Gas Company

HONOLULU, Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gas Company (TGC), Hawaii's clean gas energy provider, has named renewable fuels engineer Richard DeGarmo, P.E., director of renewable energy and capital projects. DeGarmo is responsible for planning and managing TGC's large-scale renewable energy and capital projects relating to its strategic initiatives and supply. 

For the past three decades, DeGarmo has developed biofuel and biomass processing and production plants in key locations throughout North America. He recently completed two 2-million-gallon-per-year biodiesel production plants in Ft. Meyers, Fla., and Cookeville, Tenn. He is now in the final stages of commissioning The Gas Company's renewable natural gas (RNG) plant on Oahu, which will be dedicated on Dec. 15. DeGarmo reports to Thomas Young, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and supply.

"Rich has the experience and technical capabilities needed to move The Gas Company and the community it serves toward a future in which renewable and sustainable energy sources replace substantial quantities of petroleum as primary fuels," said Jeffrey M. Kissel, TGC president and CEO. "We are pleased to have him join our successful team."

"This is an exciting time to be a part of The Gas Company, which is working to demonstrate to the world that we can replace petroleum with renewable, sustainable fuels," said DeGarmo.

Before joining The Gas Company, DeGarmo was a principal with ProTerra Solutions in Houston, Texas, where he developed a North American engineering practice specializing in the design and fabrication of process equipment for renewable fuel industries.  He earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences and a master's degree in agricultural engineering from Ohio State University.

ABOUT THE GAS COMPANY

Overview

The Gas Company, LLC, (TGC) provides clean, reliable and efficient gas energy to residential, business and government customers in every community across Hawaii's six major islands — Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai. Next to the sun itself, gas is the most efficient way to heat water, cook food and dry clothes.

TGC makes synthetic natural gas (SNG) at the only facility of its kind in the United States and supplies it through a 1,100-mile pipeline network to nearly 30,000 commercial and residential utility customers on Oahu. TGC also supplies tank and bottled propane gas to more than 40,000 customers statewide.

To help Hawaii's state government meet its goal of 70 percent clean energy by 2030, TGC is working to produce at least half of its gas from renewable and sustainable sources.

Parent Company

The Gas Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie Infrastructure Company (NYSE: MIC — www.macquarie.com/mic). MIC owns, operates and invests in a diversified group of infrastructure businesses that provide basic services to customers across the United States.

Contact: Stephanie C. Ackerman
808-535-5913   Mobile 808-226-6666
[email protected]

SOURCE The Gas Company