Startups awarded for using hog manure, defunct mines to improve the environment

Two entrepreneurs have won U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Awards for 2025

Each year, the U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Award recognizes entrepreneurs working to turn bold ideas into practical solutions with real environmental and economic impact. Presented with Evergreen Climate Innovations, the award includes a $30,000 grant and a year of mentorship from a U.S. Bank team member. This year’s winners, Swinergy and Aquarry, stood out for their innovative approaches to climate challenges. 

Swinergy: Turning farm waste into clean energy

Based in Minneapolis, Swinergy transforms livestock manure into renewable energy. The company uses anaerobic digestion technology, a process where natural bacteria break down livestock waste, to process the manure into renewable natural gas (RNG) and fertilizer. The system captures about 90% of greenhouse gas emissions and reduces processing time from a typical 60-90 days to just 13 days.

“Our solution is a win-win-win,” said Eugene Alvey, Swinergy founder and CEO. “Farmers benefit from better margins through RNG profit sharing, improved animal health and continued access to manure for crops. Rural communities benefit from reduced farm odors and cleaner well water. And the environment is better off because we capture a significant portion of livestock emissions, reduce nitrate runoff in waterways and generate renewable natural gas for growing energy needs.”

Swinergy’s system integrates with existing farm infrastructure at no cost to farmers, Alvey said, and it’s designed to adapt to farms of all sizes and in various climates. The company manages system installation, operation, maintenance and renewable natural gas sales. 

 “We made this a very easy ‘yes’ for the farmers,” Alvey said. “Our principle is to alleviate – never add – burden for farmers.” 

The Cleantech grant will support Swinergy’s commercial pilot in southern Minnesota, a region with one of the highest concentrations of hogs in the United States, Alvey said. 

He said he hopes his U.S. Bank mentor will help guide him through financing and raising capital so the company can expand to other regions and agricultural sectors over the next three to five years.

Aquarry: Mining sites as climate solutions

Aquarry aims to transform defunct mining sites, which are often seen as costly liabilities, into hubs for decarbonization. Based in Golden, Colorado, and led by founder and CEO Kate Murphy, Aquarry converts post-production mine sites into large-scale carbon sinks, with potential to safely capture millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and generate other benefits.

When mines close, sites often fill with water and create pit lakes that can be expensive to manage and pose risks to local communities and ecosystems, Murphy said. 

“Our technology turns mining liabilities into climate assets,” Murphy said. “We capture carbon dioxide, improve water quality, recover valuable metals and boost local economies. By using existing equipment and resources, we can cost-effectively help mining companies reduce their carbon footprint, generate new revenue and lower tax liabilities.”

Projects are also designed to bring long-term economic benefit to communities impacted by mine closures. 

“Our projects will take decades, providing jobs and economic stimulus for the region,” Murphy said.

Aquarry will act as a service provider, designing projects and handling carbon credit registration and sales, while mining companies will build and operate the sites and receive most of the financial upside, she said. 

Aquarry is testing its technology at two mine sites, one of which has the capacity to store up to 50 million tons of carbon dioxide and recover $9 billion worth of nickel, Murphy said.

Murphy said there are more than 10,000 pit lakes worldwide, so the company’s potential for growth and impact is significant. 

Murphy is seeking a U.S. Bank mentor who can advise her on aspects of operating and financing her growing business. Aquarry plans to leverage the Cleantech grant to support a field trial in Newfoundland next summer.

Accelerating climate solutions
The U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Award celebrates early-stage companies developing scalable climate solutions.

“Through the Cleantech Award, we strive to identify and support promising talent and ideas in the cleantech sector,” said Ariel Meyerstein, head of sustainability at U.S. Bank. “The award aims to accelerate the development of transformative climate solutions that also promote economic growth and job creation.”

This year’s winners, Swinergy and Aquarry, show how innovative thinking can drive progress for the environment and local communities, he said. 

"We look forward to seeing what they accomplish next," Meyerstein said.

The U.S. Bank Foundation is a tax-exempt private foundation described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The foundation is funded primarily through contributions from U.S. Bank National Association and its affiliates and subsidiaries. The Foundation’s mission is to close the gaps between people and possibility in the areas of work, home, and play.