| On the Rise |
| Features | |
| Written by Deborah Geering | |
| Wednesday, 31 March 2010 | |
 Landfill methane projects aren’t the sexiest around, but this proven technology is getting a second look from open-minded utilities.  Better still, there’s a government agency ready to help you get your project up and running. The Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), operated by the EPA, provides information and assistance to companies, utilities, government agencies, landfills, and communities interested in developing a landfill-gas-to-energy program. As waste decomposes in landfills, it creates a gas mix containing approximately 50% methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas that is more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. If left to escape into the atmosphere, landfill methane creates a significant environmental hazard. To prevent buildup, landfills must flare off some of the methane. “Most people don’t know that energy is being burned, whether we put a generator in there or not,” said Alan Hanger of Alameda Municipal Power, a California utility that has been incorporating landfill projects into its portfolio since 2003. A better solution is to harness that energy. “Landfill gas is a local, reliable, renewable source of energy, and it’s a proven technology,” said Victoria Ludwig, LMOP program manager. Using the methane generated by landfill decomposition to create energy is a win for everyone: the environment, communities in search of green programs, and utilities seeking to meet renewable portfolio standards. In landfill gas projects, a utility or third party constructs a network for collecting, purifying, and converting the gas into energy. This is done with a series of wells and a blower or vacuum system that directs the gas to a central processing point. The gas can be used to generate electricity and heat with internal combustible engines or turbines, or it can be upgraded to pipeline-quality gas. According to the EPA, there are more than 509 operational landfill gas projects in the US and 530 more landfills that are good candidates for projects. “The climate, no pun intended, is really fertile for these projects,” Ludwig said. “More and more states are implementing renewable energy portfolio standards, and all of those states recognize landfill gas as a renewable energy. These projects are eligible for carbon credits, and there are many incentives to help pay for them.” Information and advice Created in 1994, LMOP forms partnerships with communities, landfill owners, utilities, power marketers, project developers, and other parties to facilitate the creation of landfill gas projects. The organization can help assess feasibility, connect project partners, find financing, and educate communities on the benefits of landfill gas projects. A good place to start is LMOP’s recently updated Web site, www.epa.gov/lmop. In addition to a downloadable project development handbook, the site offers a cost estimator, a benefits calculator, a funding guide, a state-by-state directory of green power providers, and other useful tools. LMOP’s staff is also available for advice and site visits. “We can provide technical assistance, visit with the parties, and/or run economic and technical analyses for them,” Ludwig said. “We can hold their hands as much or as little as they want.” But perhaps its best service is bringing the necessary parties to the table. “The landfill needs to be assured about how the project is going to get paid for. The utility has its profit margin involved, and if there’s a third party, it also has a profit margin to meet,” Ludwig said. Each year, LMOP hosts a conference and project expo for interested parties. The 13th annual conference drew the largest crowd yet. “For Baltimore in January, 600 people is pretty good,” Ludwig joked. The attendance record is testament to the growing popularity of landfill gas projects. Newcomers to landfill gas have their choice of role models. With about 11% of its power portfolio coming from landfill gas, Alameda Municipal Power is a national leader. The utility contracts with two third-party companies, Ameresco and Republic Services, to provide energy from four landfill plants. “In terms of getting something that fits our portfolio at the right price, landfill gas is a match,” said Hanger, Alameda’s senior energy resource analyst. The utility, which bills itself as “the greenest little utility in America,” gets 63% of its energy from renewable resources, not including its large hydro projects. Hanger offers these tips to utilities exploring a contract with a third party to provide landfill gas energy: Get experienced legal help. “You want an attorney on your side who understands both negotiations and the utility industry,” he said. From the beginning, Alameda invested in robust contracts that would serve as boilerplates for additional landfill projects. Build in departure points. Landfill gas projects can get held up by environmental impact studies, permitting processes, and plant construction. “We had four or five off-ramps at construction milestones, and if they weren’t met, we had the option to terminate the project and walk away with no penalties,” said Hanger Add a provision to test the equipment. A plant that goes down all the time isn’t meeting your energy needs. Don’t pay for uncollected gas. “We don’t have a contract to pay them x amount,” Hanger said. “If the plant’s down, we don’t pay for what isn’t generated.” Establish goals and cost parameters, and pre-educate your regulatory board. “Landfills are sort of a fixed place, and there are only so many. If an opportunity comes open, and it’s a price you can live with, you need to be prepared to quickly take it to your regulatory board,” Hanger said. Unlike renewable energy ideas that are still in the development stage, landfill methane gas projects are in use now, meeting consumer interest and renewable portfolio standards. By following the example of other projects and tapping into the resources provided by the EPA, utilities can launch a successful program. “It works, and we have examples of how it works. It provides many benefits because it is local, and you don’t have to do it alone,” Ludwig said. “LMOP can help you.” Deborah Geering is a freelance writer based in Atlanta. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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