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The Buncombe County Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project is nearly complete. The generator, which is powered by landfill gas, will begin producing electricity in September.The Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project began in 2010 with the installation of additional gas collection wells at the landfill. These wells tap the methane gas that is produced as trash decomposes in the landfill. Instead of releasing this powerful greenhouse gas into our air, which can negatively affect air quality, the wells capture it and divert it to the generator. Creating electricity from this gas reduces the demand for coal or natural gas, which are both non-renewable resources.
The generator at the landfill will produce 1.4 megawatts of electricity for the next several years, enough to power about 1,100 homes per year. This project has been funded in large part by $3 million in federal stimulus grant and loan monies which were awarded to Buncombe County. The electricity generated will be sold through a joint venture between Progress Energy and French Broad Co-op. The renewable energy credits will be sold to GreenCo Solutions, covering the cost to repay the loan and operate the project and resulting in annual net revenue of at least $200,000 to the County. (Image provided by Buncombe County.)
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