Groundbreaking Held For Landfill Gas Generator That Will Power Over 900 Escambia Homes

February 25, 2010

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A groundbreaking was held Wednesday for a partnership between Gulf Power and Escambia County that produce enough renewable energy at Perdido Landfill to power more than 900 homes.

Initially, Gulf Power’s landfill gas-to-energy facility will produce 3,200 kilowatts of renewable energy — enough to power more than 900 homes. The energy capacity can be increased as the landfill produces more methane in the future.

“This partnership with Escambia County will produce tremendous benefits for our community — as well as educational opportunities for our schoolchildren,” said Sandy Sims, manager of Gulf Power Public Affairs. “Together, we will eliminate a source of greenhouse gas by capturing and using the methane that is already escaping into the atmosphere. We can produce renewable electricity that will benefit Gulf Power customers and create revenue for Escambia County.”

Gulf Power has a contract with Escambia County for the purchase of landfill gas and with LFG Technologies Development to build and operate the landfill gas-to-energy facility.

Landfill methane gas is one of the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy, forming naturally by decomposition of organic material in landfills. Municipal solid waste landfills are the second largest human-generated source of methane emissions in the United States. Escambia County has a collection system in place and currently flares the gas as required by regulations.

LFG Technologies has built and operated more than 125,000 kilowatts of landfill gas facilities in the U.S. The brick facility will house two Caterpillar generators specially designed to burn landfill methane gas.

Once the facility begins operation, educational tours will be available for school groups and the community.

Pictured top:  Escambia County’s Perdido Landfill, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “Groundbreaking Held For Landfill Gas Generator That Will Power Over 900 Escambia Homes”

  1. Molested on February 27th, 2010 10:52 am

    My point David.Is that Gulf Power will be getting green tax credits and maybe sale this energy as a green power at a higher price. But is it real? In other words are they creating more CO2 than would have a occured normally. I think you may have missed the point. They maybe creating more CO2 for the financial write off. Gulf power has more capacity in reserve even if they purchase additonal power from and IPP. One additonal unit will be more than enough power to supply the 900 homes on any given day. So while supplying power with substantial power reserve. The additional Gas generators may in fact be creating additional CO2 than the normal decay process. GP is taking advantage of the current laws and govermental give aways. They are not saints to the environment.

  2. David Huie Green on February 26th, 2010 5:19 pm

    REGARDING:
    “How much CO2 is created from the gas generators in comparison to the methane burned.”

    That would obviously depend on the amount of organic matter involved but all biodegradable materials eventually are broken down into carbon dioxide and water. The methane is just an intermediate step due to lack of oxygen during decomposition and all the methane will be burned into carbon dioxide and water.

    So really the thing is that they are extracting useful energy from something that’s going to happen anyway.

    David full of gas

  3. Katmekanik on February 25th, 2010 6:55 pm

    Gulf Power is building the plant.

  4. David on February 25th, 2010 1:12 pm

    Will you tell me how this plant is to be paid for? Grants? Loans? New Taxes? New Fees? Thank you.

  5. Molested on February 25th, 2010 12:04 pm

    How much CO2 is created from the gas generators in comparison to the methane burned.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News