$20 Million Landfill-gas-to-Energy Project Opens to Help Power Marine Base

Date: September 23, 2011

Source: Chevron Energy Solutions

Chevron Energy Solutions, a unit of Chevron Corp., announced the opening of a 1.9 megawatt landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) project for the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) in Albany GA which represents the US Navy's first landfill gas cogeneration plant. Under a 20-year contract, Chevron Energy will pipe landfill gas from the nearby Fleming/Gaissert Road Landfill to the MCLB where it will be converted into electricity that is expected to meet 22 percent of the base's needs. The gas project goes a long way toward meeting the Navy's renewable energy goals, especially since the Energy Policy Act of 2005 orders the federal government, to the extent that is economically and technically feasible, to meet 7.5 percent of its electricity needs with renewable energy sources by 2013. "This project offers significant benefits to the Department of the Navy, the Marine Corps and Dougherty County," said Col. Terry V. Williams, commanding officer, MCLB Albany. "Chevron Energy Solutions has helped us surpass federal renewable energy goals in our pursuit of becoming the 'greenest' Marine Corps installation in the nation."

See also: "Chevron Breaks Ground on 2 MW Landfill Gas Cogen Project," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20100525G.htm).

See also: "Georgia Landfill Will Power Marine Corps Base," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20100105F.htm).


PRESS RELEASE

Chevron and Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany Complete Navy's First Landfill Gas Power Plant

Chevron Energy Solutions and the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany recently completed the Department of the Navy's first landfill gas cogeneration plant.

The plant in Albany, Ga., produces 1.9 megawatts of renewable electric power and steam by burning landfill gas collected from a nearby landfill. Chevron Energy Solutions also completed industrial lighting retrofits in 82 buildings and expanded the existing energy management control system. When combined with the cogeneration project, these measures reduce the base's purchase of utility power and reduce its carbon emissions by 19,300 tons annually, equivalent to removing 16,000 cars from the road.

"This project offers significant benefits to the Department of the Navy, the Marine Corps and Dougherty County," said Col. Terry V. Williams, commanding officer, MCLB Albany. "Chevron Energy Solutions has helped us surpass federal renewable energy goals in our pursuit of becoming the 'greenest' Marine Corps installation in the nation. Not only does the use of this renewable power improve the base's energy security and reliability, it also creates a valuable long-term source of revenue for the county. This is a win-win-win."

Chevron Energy Solutions developed, designed and managed construction of the plant and will maintain the landfill gas-to-energy facility, pipeline and processing equipment. The facility houses a dual-fuel engine generator, a stack heat recovery steam generator and two dual-fuel boilers. The primary equipment can operate on landfill gas or natural gas, which provides energy security benefits. With the addition of the plant, MCLB's power portfolio now contains 19 percent renewable power, exceeding guidelines in the EPAct of 2005 and Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Chevron Energy Solutions and MCLB will co-operate the generator and steam-producing equipment. Through an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), Chevron Energy Solutions arranged the financing for the project, which is repaid through the MCLB's avoided energy costs. The company also guarantees system performance for 22 years. Chevron Energy Solutions has been actively involved with MCLB Albany's energy program since 2002, and the base recently won the 2011 Secretary of the Navy Energy and Water Management Award.

"With this new plant and the investments and participation of Dougherty County, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany is able to extract power from an otherwise unused renewable energy source. We are proud to work with the Navy to support this award-winning energy program and to support the important mission of the Marine Corps Logistics Base," said Jim Davis, president of Chevron Energy Solutions. "This new energy plant is funded entirely through energy savings and demonstrates how military bases and local governments can work together with private industry to meet federal mandates without increasing taxpayer costs."

Dougherty County extracts and sells the landfill gas to MCLB from the Fleming/Gaissert Road Landfill, which receives approximately 100,000 tons of municipal solid waste each year. The biological decomposition of the waste generates landfill gas that is approximately 50 percent methane by volume.

Sign up to receive our free Weekly News Bulletin