Facilities recognized through LMOP 2014 Partner and Project of the Year Awards Program.
Customers of Peoria, Illinois-based Caterpillar were among honorees recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program’s (LMOP’s) Partner and Project of the Year Awards Program held in conjunction with the Solid Waste Association of North America’s (SWANA’s) recent 38th Annual Landfill Gas & Biogas Symposium in New Orleans. The program recognizes a select few partners for excellence in innovation and creativity, success in promoting renewable energy development and achievement of environmental and economic benefits through successful landfill gas (LFG) energy projects.
Caterpillar customer honorees include Seneca Energy II Renewable Natural Gas Facility, Waterloo, New York; Sand Valley Landfill Gas to Electric Plant, Collinsville, Alabama; and Hancock County, Findlay, Ohio.
“Current fuel treatment and engine-generator technologies help put landfill gas-to-energy projects in a highly attractive and environmentally friendly position,” says Paul Zink, Caterpillar Electric Power North America Gas Account Manager. “These projects demonstrate just how valuable biogas has become and how leading companies are now taking advantage of advanced renewable energy technologies.”
2014 Projects of the Year:
- Seneca Energy II Renewable Natural Gas Facility – Developed by Aria Energy and customer of Milton Cat, this project involves processing approximately 3,000 cubic feet of LFG per minute from the Seneca Meadows Landfill into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). The RNG is transported through an existing natural gas pipeline to make electricity, used in fuel cells to produce electricity for on-site consumption, or compressed for use in natural gas vehicles. In addition to the newly-established RNG facility, an existing LFG-to-electricity project is currently producing 17.6 megawatts (MW) of power using 18 Cat reciprocating engines.
- Sand Valley Landfill Gas-to-Electric Plant – Republic Services partnered with Energy Developments, Inc., a customer of Ohio Cat, to develop the Sand Valley Landfill Gas-to-Electric Plant (LFGTE) project in conjunction with the Tennessee Valley Authority and Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative. The LFGTE project generates 4.8 MW of power using three Cat reciprocating engines, making it the largest LFG electricity project in Alabama. The plant produces electricity required for approximately 4,000 homes in the area. The project overcame a number of obstacles to implementation, including the remote location of the project which required the installation of a 9-mile feeder line connecting the power project to the nearest sub-station.
2014 Community Partner of the Year:
- Hancock County – The Hancock County Sanitary Landfill, owned and operated by Hancock County, serves the entire surrounding community. The County partnered with Granger Energy Services, a customer of Michigan Cat, along with Buckeye Power and Hancock Woods Cooperative, to bring online a 3.2 MW LFG electricity project. The county’s foresight in finding a beneficial use for LFG resulted in a new revenue stream from the sale of LFG. This benefit, along with the accompanying improved air quality and the reduced greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrates the importance of public-private partnerships to improve public health and the environment.