NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 26, 2026--
Viridi Energy is proud to support residents of the Town of Ringle in Marathon County recovering from the devastating tornadoes that struck Central Wisconsin on April 17, 2026, through a community relief grant administered by the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin. The grant will reimburse individuals and families for tipping fees incurred while disposing of debris and property destroyed by the storms, helping ease one of the many financial burdens faced during recovery.
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The tornadoes caused widespread damage across the region, impacting homes, families, and businesses throughout the community where Viridi owns and operates its Marathon Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility which is co-located with the Marathon County Solid Waste Department.
The April 17 tornadoes left a lasting mark on communities across Marathon County. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-3 tornado with winds approaching 140 mph, causing extensive damage throughout Weston, Ringle, and surrounding communities. Approximately 75 homes were damaged, roads were blocked by fallen trees and debris, power outages affected thousands of residents, and nearly 150 properties ultimately required repair or rebuilding. While the community was fortunate to avoid fatalities, many families experienced the devastating loss of their homes and belongings, beginning a long road to recovery.
The grant reflects Viridi's commitment to supporting the communities where it lives, works, and invests—not only through renewable energy projects, but by standing alongside neighbors during times of need.
"Our Marathon facility is more than a project to us—it's part of a community that our employees and their families call home," said Dan Crouse, Chief Executive Officer of Viridi Energy. "When the tornadoes struck, this wasn't a tragedy happening somewhere else. Family members of our own employees were impacted, and some lost their homes entirely. Supporting this recovery effort is deeply personal for our team. We hope this grant provides meaningful assistance to families as they rebuild, and serves as a reminder that they are not facing this challenge alone."
Dylan Trittin, Plant Operator at Viridi's Marathon RNG facility, experienced that loss firsthand. "This community has always looked out for one another, and after the storms, that spirit became even more evident," said Trittin. "My family was among those who lost our home, so I know firsthand how important every act of kindness can be. I'm proud to work for a company that believes in giving back to the communities where we live and work."
The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin will administer the program and distribute the grants directly to eligible Ringle residents. Payments are intended to reimburse tipping fee charges associated with the disposal of tornado-damaged property at the Marathon County Solid Waste Department.
"Strong communities are built on neighbors helping neighbors," added Crouse. "We are grateful to partner with the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin and Marathon County whose trusted local leadership ensures these funds reach the families who need them most."
Viridi believes that creating long-term value extends beyond producing renewable natural gas. The company is committed to being a responsible community partner, investing in the well-being of the people and places where it operates.
Additional information on the tipping fee reimbursement program, including application materials, can be found at https://tornado.cfoncw.org.
About Viridi Energy
Viridi Energy is a full-service renewable natural gas (RNG) platform that develops, owns, and operates projects that transform landfill gas and other organic waste streams into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas. Backed by Warburg Pincus and Green Rock Energy Partners, Viridi partners with communities across North America to deliver sustainable energy infrastructure while creating environmental and economic value.
Viridi Marathon RNG Facility
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Army announced Wednesday that it plans to add nuclear microreactors at five military bases from New York to Texas as a reliable source of energy independent of the commercial electric grid.
The announcement comes as the Trump administration pushes hard to develop the next generation of nuclear power, including billions in loans for large nuclear reactors to meet skyrocketing power demand from data centers and a pilot program to boost advanced reactor designs and projects for military and civilian use. No nuclear microreactors are supplying power to the commercial electric grid in the United States today.
Five companies selected by the Army will be awarded up to $2.2 billion in total over five years to own, construct and operate the microreactors, if they hit set milestones along the way for their performance. The Army expects that more than 20 nuclear microreactors will be built and operated.
Army and industry officials say microreactors offer a resilient power source for critical infrastructure at military installations in case the grid fails. Reactors can run for years without refueling.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said the awards will accelerate the military’s ability “to deliver safe, reliable baseload power directly to our installations. We are building the energy resilience necessary to project combat power globally, without relying on potentially vulnerable external grids,” he said.
The grants are part of the Army's “Janus Program” launched last year to deliver next-generation nuclear energy. Officials hope to push nuclear development forward so that advanced reactor designs move beyond experiments and prototypes to provide power for years to come. This will be the “spear tip,” said Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment.
“That is the transition that we are trying to effect here,” he said on a call with reporters Wednesday. “These are not meant to be Army-specific designs.”
Critics of building more nuclear reactors say they’re too expensive and riskier than other energy sources. Waksman said these reactors will shut down safely in case of a failure, they're small and the Army wouldn't add them to installations without being certain they are safe. He said the Army is working on a deal with the Energy Department to remove radioactive waste, and there won't be any long-term storage on these installations.
President Donald Trump signed executive orders in May 2025 to speed up the development of nuclear power. The Army was tasked with ensuring that an advanced reactor would start operating at a domestic military installation no later than Sept. 30, 2028. The Janus program is named for the ancient Roman god of transitions.
Officials know that delivering nuclear power to a military base will be a challenge, so they picked five companies in case one or more fail, Waksman said. The selected companies are: Antares Nuclear at Fort Bragg in North Carolina; BWXT at Fort Campbell in Kentucky; General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems at Fort Hood in Texas; Radiant Industries at Fort Benning in Georgia; and Westinghouse Government Services at Fort Drum in New York.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked the Army to select Fort Drum. The critical missions Fort Drum supports require secure, reliable and resilient power generation, the New York Democrat said.
The reactors will be licensed by the Army, rather than the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which licenses commercial nuclear reactors. The Army is working to align its regulatory processes as much as possible, Waksman said, so that companies won’t need major changes to their designs to be later licensed by the NRC. Along with federal funding, the Army expects billions of dollars in private capital investment.
The military installations will remain connected to the grid. The reactors would not completely power them. Each reactor will provide between 1 megawatt to 20 megawatts of power, depending on the company's design. Major bases use as much power as a small city. Antares and Radiant are planning to deliver their reactors in three-packs, Waksman said.
The Army now uses diesel as a primary backup for critical infrastructure. But in a conflict, Waksman said, the Army may not be able to move fossil fuels easily wherever it needs them.
“That makes nuclear energy just a natural game changer,” he said. “It makes sense for the Army to take the lead here.”
A reactor at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, completed in 1957, was the first nuclear power reactor to provide electricity to a commercial power grid in the United States for an extended period, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
California-based Antares reached a crucial milestone under the U.S. pilot program that could allow it to produce electricity within a few years. The company said the Army's announcement extends its momentum.
Tori Shivanandan, president and chief operating officer of California-based Radiant, said the Army’s $750 million award “shows confidence in Radiant’s product and ability to manufacture, deploy and safely operate nuclear microreactors for the American military.” The Janus program “will build a stronger and more resilient America,” she said.
Rex Geveden, BWXT's president and chief executive officer, said, “As we commence work on the Janus program, we are delivering the nation’s most credible and reliable path to deployable nuclear power.”
McDermott reported from Providence, R.I.
The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
FILE - U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll speaks at the America 250 celebration at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C., June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker, File)
FILE - Members of the Army military stand behind a new sign at Fort Benning during a ceremony, April 16, 2025, in Fort Benning, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
FILE - A sign at Fort Bragg, N.C., is seen, Jan. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)
