Date: November 6, 2009
Source: News Room
Officials with the City of Durham, NC and Duke Energy were on hand to open a new $5 million 3-megawatt landfill gas to energy (LFGTE) project at the city's old landfill. Methane Power (Tucson, AZ) built the plant that includes three 20-cylinder engines to generate enough electricity to power over 1,900 homes. Duke Energy has agreed to purchase that power under a 20-year contract with the developer which in turn will pay the city about $255,000 per year in royalties.
See also "Duke Energy Signs Landfill Gas Deal in Durham, NC," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20080813E.htm).
PRESS RELEASE:
Successful Launch of Landfill Gas to Energy Project in Durham County, NC
Conversion of methane into a renewable source of electricity has commenced at the City of Durham Landfill, with Duke Energy Carolinas purchasing both the power and associated Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) generated from the project.
Methane is a harmful greenhouse gas, being 21 times more damaging than carbon dioxide. Prior to this project, methane was already being captured and destroyed at the site through flaring. However, the installation of this project enables the methane to be destroyed instead in engines, which generates renewable electricity. Methane Power, Inc. has designed and installed, and will now operate and maintain, the 3.3 MW electricity generating plant at the site which utilises a sophisticated gas treatment system and 3 GE Jenbacher engines supplied by local firm Nixon Energy Solutions.
Key to the success of this project has been the good relationship between all parties involved, with the Mayor of Durham, Mayor William V. Bell, commenting "This is a great opportunity for the City to support our plan to help significantly reduce the City's greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time promoting the re-use of energy that would otherwise be wasted." The Mayor continued, "I am especially proud that City administration continues to search for ways to reduce our contribution to global climate change. I believe our efforts can create a more efficient government, improved air quality and a better quality of life for all Durham citizens."
Methane Power, Inc. is an established renewable energy project developer. President and CEO, James Voss, states, "We have a number of similar projects where we are utilizing landfill gas to produce energy or, at a minimum, to destroy the methane in that gas and our geographic focus is on the Carolinas." Methane Power, Inc. does not own or run the landfills from which the methane is collected. Instead, it buys the landfill gas rights, designs, installs and operates gas collection and treatment systems and electricity generating plants and sells the end-products, being a combination of renewable energy, RECs and carbon credits, to end-users looking for alternative energy sources.
About Methane Power, Inc.:
Methane Power, Inc. develops, installs and operates renewable energy projects across the continental United States and in particular focuses on applying proven technologies to generate energy from landfill gas projects.
For further information, please contact Lewis Gay on 1 (704) 806-1481 or visit our website www.methanepower.net.
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