In 2017, Augusta, Maine, decided to put Hatch Hill Landfill to work. The active municipal solid waste disposal site, serving the city’s population of 18,500 plus eight surrounding communities, now offsets the electrical bills for the Augusta’s nine largest buildings. The methane gas produced by decomposing trash is harnessed to fuel a 550-kilowatt generator, which feeds electricity into the local utility provider’s grid under a net metering agreement with the City. Within 11 years, the $3 million project will have paid for itself through the reduction of the City’s energy costs. In 17 years, Augusta anticipates a return on investment of $1 million. Additionally, the methane collection system has reduced nuisance odors and greenhouse gas emissions. This project demonstrates that biogas generators can, in fact, be designed to suit municipal-scale operation, and not just private owned landfills. In this presentation, you will learn how to assess the gas-to-energy potential in your municipal-owned landfills and find out the necessary steps for setting a landfill gas project in motion.
Learning Objectives:
_Examine the range of generator technology and size that may allow publicly-owned systems to produce significant cost savings for a community.
_Assess whether your municipal-owned landfills are candidates for a gas-to-energy system and the potential long-term return on investment.
_Identify the design, permitting, and local approval process for landfill gas projects of this kind.
Contributor/Source
Lesley Jones ;Megan McDevitt
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Mastery of basic concepts associated with an area has been obtained. Focuses on understanding nuances, advanced concepts, and intricacies with implementation within knowledge area. Strong understanding of how the concept impacts other factors or areas of operations.
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