Dive Brief:
- Republic Services and Mas Energy have announced a new landfill gas-to-energy project in the Metro Atlanta area in Georgia.
- Three facilities— located in the cities of Buford, Griffin and Winder—will be capable of producing 24.1 megawatts of electricity or enough for 15,665 homes.
- Using EPA calculations, Republic estimates that this project will prevent carbon emissions equivalent to 132 million gallons of gasoline.
Dive Insight:
Republic lists this project as part of their Blue Planet sustainability initiative which aims to decrease emissions, develop new landfill technologies, and increase the use of renewable energy. The company currently sends its landfill gas to 69 renewable energy projects that can power more than 250,000 homes.
Republic's partner on the Metro Atlanta facilities, Mas Energy, is involved in wind, landfill gas, combined heat and power, geothermal, and district energy throughout the world. Georgia Power, I Squared Capital, Crowder Construction Company, and Nixon Energy also participated in the new project.
Landfill gas-to-energy projects have becoming increasingly popular ways for companies to capture more value from their facilities and meet stricter regulatory requirements. The Environmental Protection Agency recently released standards for new and existing landfills which placed a big emphasis on reducing methane emissions as part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan.
