Crowder Construction Completed $205M Raleigh Bioenergy Project

Construction firms can learn from how this project addressed difficult soil conditions and site constraints.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Construction

Isometric editorial illustration showing layers of crushed stone aggregate and industrial pipes within a construction trench, representing infrastructure engineering. — Crowder Construction completed the $205.4 million Bioenergy Recovery Project at Raleigh’s Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility, enhancing local waste-to-gas capabilities. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should local governments invest in high-cost technology to convert sewage waste into renewable energy?

Crowder Construction Co. recently finalized the $205.4 million Bioenergy Recovery Project at Raleigh’s Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility. The infrastructure upgrades allow the site to convert wastewater biosolids into renewable natural gas.

Why it matters

The project demonstrates how municipalities and contractors are scaling renewable energy production within existing utility footprints. By reducing biosolids volume, facilities can significantly extend the lifespan of their waste management infrastructure.

The $205.4 million infrastructure project achieved a 50% reduction in total biosolids volume. This effort helps the Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility meet EPA Class A standards for the unrestricted reuse of materials.

The players

Crowder Construction Co.

A construction firm specializing in heavy civil and utility infrastructure projects.

Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility

A major municipal wastewater treatment site operated in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Environmental Protection Agency

The federal agency that establishes the regulatory standards for biosolid reuse.

The details

To overcome onsite challenges, including poorly compacted soils, the construction team preloaded the site with materials from a city-owned borrow area to avoid deeper, costlier foundations. Crews also managed large subsurface boulders by crushing them for use as aggregate base material on-site. This conversion process uses thermal hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion to maximize biogas yields.

October 14, 2026: The project received an Award of Merit in the Water/Environment category.

Market Landscape

This project aligns with national infrastructure trends focused on upgrading wastewater treatment sites to meet EPA Class A biosolids standards. It reflects a growing industry emphasis on turning utility waste into renewable energy sources.

Operators facing difficult soil conditions should evaluate the feasibility of preloading and site-based material crushing rather than immediate excavation or deep foundation work. Monitor local utility infrastructure upgrades as they may present niche civil contracting opportunities.

The takeaway

Large-scale utility projects can optimize costs by repurposing on-site materials like boulders for aggregate base. Managers should track regional municipal RFP schedules to identify upcoming opportunities for similar waste-to-energy infrastructure projects.