ALBANY, Mo. (AP) — Supporters of a biogas project taking shape in northern Missouri say that manure from about 2 million hogs will be converted into renewable natural gas and sold by summer 2016.

They also say the project will keep tons of methane out of the atmosphere.

The joint venture between Roeslein Alternative Energy and Smithfield Food Hogs Production has an estimated $120 million price tag and is one of the largest biogas projects of its kind.

About half of the 88 existing manure lagoons on nine Smithfield farms already are enclosed by impermeable covers, which will produce biogas to be cleaned and used as an alternative energy.

Duke Energy in North Carolina has purchased part of the finished product.