Founder of Archaea Energy & Noble Environmental shares blueprint for sustainable, scalable systems in latest feature.
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 14, 2025 / In a newly released feature article titled "Nick Stork's Journey: From Forts to $4.1B Energy Deals," entrepreneur and infrastructure leader Nick Stork is calling on industry builders, investors, and everyday problem-solvers to rethink how clean energy and infrastructure can be approached-not just as moral imperatives, but as systems that work better and grow stronger over time.
Stork, best known for founding Archaea Energy, which became the world's largest renewable natural gas (RNG) producer and sold to BP in 2022. His message is clear: sustainable infrastructure can be profitable, scalable, and replicable-without relying on hype or handouts.
"We created machines that got better every time we built one," said Stork. "It wasn't about being flashy. It was about being disciplined."
Pushing Back on the Myth of ‘Clean = Costly'
Stork's experience building Project Assai-the world's largest RNG plant, which came in on time, on budget, and was projected to deliver $40M in EBITDA in its first year-underscores his point.
He believes the clean energy sector needs fewer science projects and more operational systems.
"People think clean energy only works with subsidies," he said. "But we have demonstrated that you can build large-scale, renewable infrastructure profitably. It is critical to focus on the best of what is possible - absolute cost reduction vs. relative."
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, landfill gas represents over 4% of the country's total methane emissions-most of it wasted. Turning that waste into energy, like Archaea did at scale, presents a clear win for both the economy and the environment.
A Call to Action for Builders and Backers
Stork's story isn't just about his success. It's a challenge to others.
"You don't need to wait for the perfect conditions or new technology," he said. "Start small. Focus on one thing that works. Make it repeatable and get incremental improvements with scale and by doing the same thing over and over again."
He encourages young builders, founders, investors, and even city planners to think in systems-not slogans.
"Ask yourself: can this grow, can this improve, and can this work without someone else footing the bill?"
Innovating Hydropower with Current Hydro
Stork continues to apply his "builder's mindset" in his role on the board of Current Hydro. The company is focused on converting existing non-powered dams into hydropower plants, not through new technology, but by innovating the construction, design, and licensing process itself.
Current Hydro employs a modular construction approach to significantly expedite project timelines, mirroring the standardized and repeatable build-out strategy that drove Archaea's success.
While the average hydropower project operates with a capacity factor of 40%, Current Hydro's design philosophy deliberately uses less of the available river flow, leading to higher capacity factor plants. Why do higher capacity factors matter? As more intermittent renewables like solar and wind come online, the value of firm power is increasing significantly. Current Hydro is yet another example of Stork's emphasis on long-term value and operational efficiency.
The Philanthropic Tie-In: Building Outside the Balance Sheet
Stork and his family created Stork Impact Partners, a private foundation focused on environmental restoration and conservation. The group supports biodiversity protection, ecosystem healing, and long-term sustainability projects across the U.S.
"Business isn't the only place we need systems that scale," Stork said. "Restoring landscapes, healing ecosystems-that needs structure, too."
This reflects his belief that the same principles of capital discipline and long-term thinking can (and should) be applied to how we protect the environment.
Lessons from Stork's Playbook
Stork is a strong advocate for ownership thinking, long-game discipline, and problem-first design-whether in your startup, city government, school, or local community.
If you're building something: Design it to improve each time you do it.
If you're investing time or money: Look for ideas that solve real problems and scale with less waste.
If you're leading a team or a cause: Prioritize systems over slogans.
"The best ideas in clean energy are repeatable," Stork said. "They don't have steep degradation curves and they are underpinned by long-term fixed price contracts."
To read the full interview, visit the website here.
About Nick Stork
Nick Stork is the Founder & previous CEO of Archaea Energy, which became the world's leading RNG producer before its $4.1B acquisition by BP. He is also co-founder and Chairman of Noble Environmental, and the founder of Stork Impact Partners, a foundation focused on environmental restoration and sustainability across the U.S. He sits on several boards, including M2X Energy and Current Hydro.
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SOURCE: Nick Stork
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
