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EPA Recognizes Landfill Methane Partners For Greenhouse Gas Reductions

Release Date: 02/09/2006
Contact Information: Roxanne Smith, (202) 564-4355 / [email protected]

(Washington, D.C.- February 9, 2006) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the latest accomplishments of landfill methane partners who have reduced emissions of methane and created renewable energy sources.

"By tapping into the power of landfill gasses, we are building on two of President Bush's national goals: reducing domestic greenhouse gas production and developing alternative and renewable sources of energy," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "EPA and our partners are taking methane waste and turning it into wealth – proving that doing what's good for the environment is also good for business."

Biodiesel Industries, Chester County, Pa., City of Denton, Texas, Fairfax County, Va., Granger Energy, Interface Flooring, Inc., Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Santee Cooper, and Wabash Valley Power Association received partner and project of the year awards for excellence in reducing landfill methane emissions and creating renewable energy.

EPA has assisted in the development of more than 200 landfill gas energy projects in the past 10 years. In 2005 alone, landfill gas energy projects in the U.S. provided over 9 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and 74 billion cubic feet of gas for corporate and government end users. The emissions reductions associated with these projects last year were equal to those from 13 million vehicles. The energy equivalent would be powering 725,000 homes and heating 1.2 million homes.

The partners accepted the following awards at EPA's Ninth Annual Landfill Methane Outreach Program Conference and Project Expo in Baltimore.

Project of the Year: Alternate Fuel. Biodiesel Industries and City of Denton, Texas - Landfill gas powers a 3 million gallon biodiesel production facility at the City of Denton's landfill. The biodiesel is used to power the city's truck fleet, which is the first time landfill gas has been used in the biodiesel production process.

Project of the Year: Electricity Production. Santee Cooper, S.C. - Santee Cooper's second project in South Carolina will bring their landfill gas-fired capacity to almost 10 megawatts (MW), with plans for 54 MW of green power on line by 2012.

Project of the Year: Direct Use. Chester County, Pa. and Granger Energy - Landfill gas from the Lanchester Landfill is delivered to four local companies, offsetting their reliance on natural gas and providing considerable cost savings.

Community Partner of the Year. Fairfax County, Va. - The county uses gas from the I-95 Landfill to produce electricity, dry sludge at the wastewater treatment plant, and heat the county's facilities using infrared heaters.

Energy End User Partner of the Year. Interface Flooring Systems, Ga. - Interface added landfill gas use at its LaGrange, Ga. facility to reduce further its environmental footprint.

Energy Producer Partner of the Year. Wabash Valley Power Association, Ind. – More than 4.5 percent of Wabash's customers purchase green power through their EnviroWatts program, fueled by seven landfill gas energy facilities totaling 22 megawatts.

Industry Partner of the Year. Granger Energy - A family-owned business, Granger Energy has more than 10 projects operating in six states, saving the equivalent of more than 4 million barrels of oil.

State Partner of the Year. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - The state agency provides a full spectrum of technical assistance services, financial incentives, and renewable energy programs for landfill gas energy development.

EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is a voluntary assistance and partnership program that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by supporting landfill gas energy project development.

More information or a copy of the ninth annual conference proceedings: epa.gov/lmop/awards.htm

The program also assists countries throughout the world in developing landfill methane reduction projects through the US-government led Methane to Markets Partnership.

More information on this international effort: http://www.methanetomarkets.org