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Landfill Gas To Electricity Facility Turns Trash To Energy Treasure
May 8, 2013
The county’s Perdido Landfill is continuing to turn trash into energy treasure= with Gulf Power Company’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy project hitting a new milestone. Since startup, the plant has generated nearly 65 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy. That’s enough electricity to power a 100 watt bulb for 7,000 years.
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.
“Since 2010, we have been producing energy from the methane gas created naturally by Escambia County’s Perdido Landfill,” said Natalie Smith, Gulf Power spokesperson. “All of that organic waste that is collected creates methane gas at the landfill over time. We’re proud to hit this new milestone for our customers.”
Gulf Power buys the methane from Escambia County and the utility uses it to generate electricity right there at the landfill.
“This is a significant project,” said Smith. “We’re helping the environment, providing revenue for Escambia County and lighting up our communities for years to come. Together, we’re eliminating a source of greenhouse gas by capturing and using the methane gas. We’re generating electricity from a renewable source.”
Currently, landfill gas generators can produce 3,200 kilowatts of renewable energy. The energy capacity can be increased as the landfill produces more methane in the future.
In addition, the facility holds educational tours for school groups and community groups.
Pictured: Gulf Power Company’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy facility, including two 1,600-kilowatt landfill gas generators. File photos, courtesy Gulf Power, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
5 Responses to “Landfill Gas To Electricity Facility Turns Trash To Energy Treasure”
Now if we could just keep the bag of garbage from tumbling out of the garbage trucks, onto 9mile road, beulah road, and jacks branch….we’d be set!
What about glass and old clothes? In Europe both of these are recycled and drop off containers are available in certain locations.
My apologies– Our Customer Service phone number is 476-0480. I think I was typing too fast!
– Thank you to the kind gentleman who took the time to call us and let us know I’d goofed.
Jane,
All the recyclables that are picked up by ECUA are sorted and recycled at a local facility, and sold to help offset the cost of providing the recycling service. If you haven’t signed up to participate in the curbside recycling service, I invite you to do so by calling our Customer Service at 478-0480.
This is an excellent use of our trash! Now if we can get the plastic bags, plastic bottles and other “recycleables” put to good use we will have removed and re-used so much trash!