Date: October 23, 2009
Source: Waste Management, Inc.
Waste Management Celebrates Energy Awareness Month with the Opening of Latest Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant
Middle Peninsula facility to produce enough electricity to power 6,000 homes
Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM) today officially opened its latest waste-based renewable energy facility at t he company 's Middle Peninsula Landfill to celebrate national Energy Awareness Month.The "green " energy produced from the landfill gas will provide power for the service area of the landfill and beyond through the electrical transmission grid.
The landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) facility at the Middle Peninsula Landfill will produce 6.4 megawatts of green electricity, which will produce enough energy to power approximately 6,000 homes. The plant is the fifth such facility in Virginia for Waste Management and a sixth is currently under construction at its King George Landfill.The company 's other LFGTE plants in the Commonwealth are located at Atlantic Waste Disposal in Suffolk, Bethel Landfill in Hampton, Charles City County Landfill and Maplewood Landfill in Amelia County.
"Waste Management 's landfill gas -to-energy projects in the Commonwealth demonstrate how innovative technologies can be utilized to produce alternative energy sources, while at the same time reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions," s aid Nikki Rovner, Deputy Secretary of Natural Resources. "For years Waste Management has sought out ways to be an environmental and socially responsible leader in its industry and we commend them on their continuing progress."
Waste Management currently has over 100 beneficial-use gas projects throughout the country and the Middle Peninsula project is part of the company 's environmental sustainability initiative to increase its waste-based energy production.Waste Management 's LFGTE projects generate enough energy to power 400,000 homes every day, which offsets the usage of nearly 2 million tons of coal per year.
"We are very excited to get another green energy project going in Virginia,it 's an example of Waste Management 's commitment to sustainability and the environment," said Rick Guidry, Area Director of Landfill Operations for Waste Management. "Turning a waste product into a long-term, reliable source of renewable energy helps preserve valuable natural resources for the community."
The plant captures the landfill gas, primarily methane, through a network of pipes and wells drilled into the landfill. A vacuum system draws the gas from the landfill and conveys it to the power plant where it fuels the engines driving the generators to produce electricity. The landfill gas recovery system includes more than 40 vertical gas extraction wells. Prior to the LFGTE plant being built, the landfill gas was safely burned at a central flare.
The landfill will produce gas for the power plant for the next several decades and continue even after the landfill no longer accepts waste.
A pioneer in LFGTE projects, Waste Management designed and operated its first facility in the United States more than 20 years ago. With 273 landfills, Waste Manag ement is the country 's largest landfill operator and is in a unique position to expand waste-based renewable power generation across the country. The company is also exploring partnerships to expand its landfill gas-to-energy technology to other private and municipal landfills.
In October 2007, Waste Management announced its new sustainability initiative to double its contribution to the country 's renewable energy portfolio by 2020 through waste -based energy projects. Today, Waste Management creates enough energy to power 1 million homes each year. By 2020 it aims to double that output to produce enough power for more than 2 million homes.
About Waste Management
Waste Management, based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Our subsidiaries provide collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. We are also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. Our customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. More information about Waste Management can be found at www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.
For more information, contact:
Lisa R. Kardell
202.258.1203
lkardell@wm.com.
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