The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) recognized six landfill methane capture projects and
partners for their innovation in generating renewable energy and
protecting the climate and people’s health by reducing greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions.

EPA has assisted with more than 490 landfill gas
energy projects over the past 16 years, transforming waste into a
green community asset. Landfill gas electricity generation projects
have a capacity of 1,680 megawatts (MW) and provide the energy
equivalent of powering more than 994,000 homes annually as a clean
energy source. The United States currently has about 540
operational landfill gas energy projects.



The six winners, announced at the 14^th Annual Landfill
Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) Conference in Baltimore, include a
project that powers manufacturing at a green business park in
Indiana and a 10 megawatt combined cycle power plant in Ohio. These
projects will contribute to job creation and provide energy savings
and green power generation. style=”mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;”>



Methane, a primary component of landfill gas, is a GHG with more
than 20 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. Using
landfill gas has several benefits: it provides a significant energy
resource, prevents GHG emissions, and reduces odors and other
hazards associated with emissions.



This year’s winning projects will avoid the emissions of 165,600
metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. This reduction
is equivalent to the annual GHG emissions from more
than 31,600 passenger vehicles or the carbon dioxide emissions
from 385,200 barrels of oil consumed. The direct-use projects will
use 830 standard cubic feet per minute and the
electricity-generating projects total 13.3 megawatts of generation
capacity.



Awardees are Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority Small Engine
Project, Christiansburg, Va; Frederick County Electricity Project,
Winchester, Va.; Crow Wing County Small On-site LFG Boiler Project,
Brainerd, Minn.; Hoffman Road LFG and Bay View WWTP Digester Gas
10-MW Project, Toledo, Ohio; and Newton County Renewable Energy
Park LFG Direct-Use Project, Brook, Ind. The community partner of
the year is Escambia County, Pensacola, Fla.



EPA’s LMOP is a voluntary assistance and partnership program that
reduces GHG emissions by supporting landfill gas energy project
development. The program also assists countries throughout the
world in developing landfill methane reduction projects through the
international Global Methane Initiative.



More information about EPA’s LMOP: href=”http://www.epa.gov/lmop”
target=”_blank”>http://www.epa.gov/lmop




More information about the Global Methane Initiative:
target=”_blank”>http://www.globalmethane.org