Date: June 25, 2009
Source: Interstate Waste Services
Interstate Waste Services announced that it has begun operating a new landfill gas-to-energy project located at its 684 acre Cumberland County Landfill in Shippensburg, PA. It is estimated that the 6.4 megawatt project will provide enough methane to generate enough electricity to power 4,800 homes and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by an equivalent 79 million pounds of carbon dioxide by avoiding the use of fossil fuels. PPL Renewable Energy developed the project which it will own and operate adding to its more than 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the US. Interstate Waste Services is a division of Highstar Waste Holding Corp. also has a 3.2-megawatt gas-to-energy plant, owned and operated by PPL, at its Moretown Landfill in Moretown, VT.
See also: Pennsylvania DEP Approves PPL's Cumberland LFGTE Project
(www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20081014H.htm).
PPL, Interstate Waste Services and Adams Electric partner to open latest renewable energy generating facility
Fuel is methane gas from Shippensburg-area landfill
The Cumberland County Landfill in Shippensburg, Pa., will no longer flare off the methane gas produced there. Instead, through a renewable energy project PPL Renewable Energy and Interstate Waste Services unveiled Thursday (6/25), the methane will be used to generate enough electricity to power 4,800 homes.
"Interstate Waste Services continues to lead by example on being committed to green, renewable energy projects such as the Cumberland County Landfill renewable energy project," said Anthony Farina, chief executive officer of Interstate Waste Services. "Turning a waste product, such as methane gas, into a beneficial resource is not only an economic opportunity, but it is also environmentally the right thing to do."
The landfill provides methane to power four new electricity generators at the 684-acre facility. The 6.4-megawatt landfill gas-to-energy plant will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by an equivalent 79 million pounds of carbon dioxide by avoiding the use of fossil fuels.
"Whether at traditional power plants or through the development of alternative sources of energy, PPL is dedicated to providing energy in an environmentally responsible manner," said Mike Kroboth, president for PPL Renewable Energy. "By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this facility has environmental benefits that are equal to removing 6,600 cars from the road or eliminating the need for 4 million gallons of gasoline each year."
PPL Renewable Energy develops, owns, operates and maintains renewable and clean energy projects in the northeastern United States, with a portfolio of projects that totals more than 40 megawatts of electricity generation – enough to power 20,000 homes. These include solar panel installations or landfill gas-to-energy projects in Pennsylvania, Vermont and New Jersey. More information is available at www.pplrenewableenergy.com.
Adams Electric Cooperative participated in this project by designing and assisting in the construction of over six miles of electric line to transmit the renewable energy to the local utility grid. Members of Adams Electric Cooperative also provided easements for the new power line. Adams serves nearly 9,000 consumers in the Shippensburg area.
"This project fits well with our efforts to remain environmentally friendly," said Steve Rasmussen, chief executive officer and general manager of Adams Electric Cooperative. "We put the nation's first plug-in hybrid bucket truck into service last year and continue a decades-long effort of actively controlling electric loads, which reduces the demand for electricity when the cost is highest."
PPL Corporation, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., controls or owns more than 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to about 4 million customers in Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom.
Adams Electric Cooperative serves 31,000 members in parts of Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties in Pennsylvania.
Interstate Waste Services is a subsidiary of Highstar Waste Holding Corp., which is the largest privately held vertically integrated solid waste company in the northeastern U.S. HWHC is based in Ramsey, N.J., and controls over 4,000 tons per day of nonhazardous solid waste through its collection operations and transfer stations. HWHC owns or operates 17 transfer stations and five state-of-the-art landfills with operations in Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Vermont.
Interstate Waste Services has a 3.2-megawatt gas-to-energy plant, owned and operated by PPL, at its Moretown Landfill in Moretown, Vt., which provides energy for as many as 2,400 homes. In addition, the company has partnered with the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide methane gas via pipeline to the State Correctional Institute at Laurel Highlands.
For more information, contact:
Lissette Santana, PPL Renewable Energy, 610-774-5997
losantana@pplweb.com.
Mark Harlacker, Interstate Waste Services, 717-240-6088
Sign up to receive our free Weekly News Bulletin