Environmental Protection Agency

LMOP estimates that 20 landfill gas (LFG) energy projects have come on line and two existing projects have expanded since the start of 2009. Combined with folks that delayed their ribbon-cutting ceremonies for warmer weather, the past couple of months have seen numerous celebrations for LFG energy throughout the country. This issue includes mentions of a handful of them, along with plans to include more events in the fall issue. Those interested in having their projects highlighted in the Gasette should forward information to their LMOP Territory Manager.

Maryland
On April 22, 2009, the U.S. Coast Guard Yard held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Landfill Gas Renewable Energy Center. Four 1-megawatt (MW) generators from LMOP Industry partner GE Energy - Jenbacher Gas Engines are powered by LFG, which is transported via a 1-mile pipeline from Baltimore’s Quarantine Road Landfill. Waste heat emitted in the engine exhaust stack is captured and delivered to the shipyard's steam distribution system, making this the first LFG cogeneration project in Maryland. During the winter months, LFG will be directed to the Yard’s central boiler plant to meet higher steam requirements.

Photo, the celebration for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Renewable Energy Center included a ceremonial lighting of an historic Fresnel lens with LFG-produced electricity.

The celebration for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Renewable Energy Center included a ceremonial lighting of an historic Fresnel lens with LFG-produced electricity.

The Coast Guard paid no upfront costs, and in 2007, signed a $41 million energy performance savings contract with LMOP Industry Partner Ameresco, Inc., the builder of the power plant. Ameresco also constructed the gas collection system at the landfill, as well as the pipeline that runs beneath a city road, railroad tracks, and a highway. Ameresco will maintain and operate the power plant and will provide the Coast Guard with a fixed energy price for 15 years, which is expected to save the Coast Guard $2 million annually. With the start of this project, the Yard became the first U.S. Coast Guard facility to be powered 100 percent by renewable energy.

Michigan
On May 14, 2009, LMOP Community Partner Kent County, Michigan, held a dedication ceremony for its first LFG energy project at the South Kent Landfill, located near Grand Rapids. Joel Zylstra, the Chief Operating Officer of Granger Energy, an LMOP Industry Partner, provided opening remarks. The event also featured comments by Keith Granger, Granger’s Chief Executive Officer; Swarupa Ganguli, Territory Manager from LMOP; Arthur Tanis, Kent County Commissioner; and Doug Wood, Director, Kent County Department of Public Works. Swarupa spoke about the important role LFG energy projects play in diversifying the nation’s renewable energy base and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Officials from Kent County, Michigan, and Granger celebrate the dedication of their new LFG energy project.

The South Kent Landfill generates 3.2 MW of electricity using two internal combustion engines supplied by Caterpillar, Inc., an LMOP Industry Partner. Under the current project structure, the Kent County Department of Public Works manages the LFG collection system, while Granger manages the energy-generating facility. Consumer’s Energy, a Michigan utility, is purchasing the electricity generated by the project. The County will receive 18 percent of the gross revenue from the sale of the electricity as well as carbon credits that are associated with the destruction of methane. This unique partnership between the County, the utility, and the developer created Michigan’s 28th LFG energy project, spurred in part by the October 2008 Renewable Energy Standard, which mandates that all Michigan utilities source 10 percent of their energy from renewable energy sources by 2015.

Pennsylvania
On May 21, 2009, LMOP attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Conestoga Landfill in Pennsylvania. The LFG energy project is a collaborative effort among UGI Utilities, and LMOP Industry Partners Republic Services Inc. and Granger Energy. LMOP awarded the project its 2008 Project of the Year. The project consists of a 9-mile pipeline linking two independently owned and operated landfills, a utility, and seven businesses in Lancaster and Berks Counties, Pennsylvania. Conestoga Landfill provides 3,750 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) of LFG, in addition to the LFG already provided by Lanchester Landfill. The LFG fuels approximately 25 boilers, four hot oil heaters, four ovens, three indirect-fired heaters, two direct-fired heaters, two remote thermal oxidizers, and two process water heaters. Joel Zylstra, President of Granger, presented on the Conestoga LFG energy project (PDF, 24 pp., 3.7 MB, About PDF) at the 12th Annual LMOP Conference.

South Carolina
On June 25, 2009, LMOP attended a ribbon-cutting celebration at the Greenwood County Landfill in Greenwood, South Carolina. The project is a collaboration among Fujifilm Manufacturing and LMOP Partners Methane Power and Greenwood County. Methane Power installed the gas collection system and the 5.2-mile gas pipeline that provides fuel to two boilers at the nearby Fujifilm facility, which produces photographic coatings and disposable cameras. The LFG-fired boilers, which previously combusted natural gas, provide the facility with 40 percent of its energy needs, resulting in an annual reduction of greenhouse gases equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from more than 15,000 passenger vehicles.

Shin Kataoka, President of Fujifilm Manufacturing, cuts the ribbon to mark the start of the LFG energy project.

Texas
A June 3, 2009, ribbon cutting launched an LFG collection and utilization project at Greenwood Farms Landfill, in Smith County, Texas. The landfill, owned by the City of Tyler and operated by LMOP Industry Partner Republic Services, Inc., accepts more than 1,200 tons of waste daily. The LFG is collected though a system of 60 vertical wells, averaging 50 feet deep, spread over 60 acres. LMOP Industry Partner SouthTex Renewables developed and owns the project, which also includes equipment to upgrade the LFG to pipeline quality. The recovered gas of approximately 1.44 million standard cubic feet per day, which previously was flared, is now sent to a natural gas pipeline serving Smith County.

Utah
In 2007, ground was broken for the Granger South Jordan Generating Station at Trans-Jordan Landfill in Utah’s Salt Lake Valley. The generating station is part of an LFG energy project that brought together LMOP Partners Granger Energy, Murray City Power, and Trans-Jordan Cities. Operational in December 2008, the plant has a total capacity of 4.8 MW and is comprised of three reciprocating engines manufactured by LMOP Industry Partner Caterpillar, Inc. A small amount of the electricity produced is used to power the station, with the majority sold to Murray City Power, LMOP’s 2006 Energy Partner of the Year. Granger manages the generation station, while Trans-Jordan is responsible for the LFG collection system, which captures an average of 1,600 scfm of gas. The project supplies 9 percent of Murray City Power’s total electrical power, enough to provide electricity for nearly 3,000 homes in the area.

Wisconsin
On April 24, 2009, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of a 1.85 MW LFG energy project in the Town of Ledgeview, Wisconsin. Four LMOP Partners―Brown County Port and Solid Waste Department, Cornerstone Environmental Group, Foth, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources―worked together with Miron Construction, Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, and the Town of Ledgeview to develop the project, which uses LFG recovered from the Brown County East Landfill to fuel two 925-kilowatt engine-generators manufactured by Caterpillar, Inc., an LMOP Industry Partner. The electricity generated by the project is sold to Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, an electric utility. The landfill, which opened in 1976 and closed in 2003, contains about 4 million tons of waste and is expected to be sufficient to sustain the project for 11 years.

Photo, Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were, from left to right, Charles Larscheid (Brown County Port and Solid Waste Department), Clay Hardenburger (FABCO Powers Systems), Chad Doverspike (Brown County Port and Solid Waste Department), and Mark Torresani (Cornerstone Environmental Group).

Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were, from left to right, Charles Larscheid (Brown County Port and Solid Waste Department), Clay Hardenburger (FABCO Powers Systems), Chad Doverspike (Brown County Port and Solid Waste Department), and Mark Torresani (Cornerstone Environmental Group).

California
In July 2009, LMOP Industry Partner Ameresco, Inc., announced the operational status of an LFG energy project at Ox Mountain Landfill in Half Moon Bay, California. Gas collected from the landfill is used to fuel six reciprocating gas engines made by LMOP Industry Partner GE Energy - Jenbacher Gas Engines. With a total capacity of about 11.4 MW, the project is one of the largest of its kind in the Bay Area. Ameresco designed and installed the system and has an agreement with LMOP Industry Partner Republic Services, Inc., the landfill owner and operator, to purchase the captured LFG. Ameresco sells the green power generated to LMOP Energy Partners Alameda Power & Telecom and the City of Palo Alto.

Georgia
In March 2009, Jacoby Energy Development, an LMOP Industry Partner, began collecting LFG from LMOP Industry Partner Waste Management, Inc.’s Live Oak Landfill in DeKalb County, Georgia, and producing pipeline quality natural gas. Atlanta Gas Light Co. has partnered with Jacoby to receive some of the natural gas produced. The Live Oak Landfill has the potential to produce natural gas for at least 20 years. This is the second high-Btu project in Georgia and the second LFG energy project in DeKalb County. At LMOP’s 12th Annual Conference in January 2009, Allen Spivey of AGL Resources gave a presentation on a gas utility’s perspective on LFG energy (PDF, 13 pp., 463 KB).

Missouri
In April 2009, LMOP Energy Partner Lafarge North America, Inc., a major U.S. cement producer, celebrated its new partnership with LMOP Industry Partner Republic Services, Inc. to purchase LFG from the Courtney Ridge Landfill in Independence, Missouri, to fuel the corporation’s Sugar Creek facility. Since December 2008, recovered gas is processed on site and transported through a 6,500-foot pipeline to the neighboring cement plant. Around 2,400 scfm of gas are used to fire the kiln used in the production of cement. The project builds upon Lafarge’s direct use of 972 scfm of LFG from LMOP Industry Partner Waste Management, Inc.’s Rumble Landfill, which started flowing in 2005. LFG from the two landfills displaces 20 percent of the coal previously burned.

On June 26, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 2454, The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which is commonly referred to as the Waxman-Markey Climate Bill. Landfills are not included in the carbon credit cap and trade provision of the bill, but Section 811 requires the EPA Administrator to use existing Clean Air Act authority to set greenhouse gas emission performance standards for uncapped stationary sources within 12 months of the bill’s enactment. According to the bill, landfills with annual greenhouse gas emissions of more than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents would be subject to new source performance standards (NSPS). The EPA has completed an economic analysis, which is available on the EPA Climate Change Web site. The bill also includes a renewable electricity standard that would require large utilities in each state to produce an increasing percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. LFG is an eligible resource. Currently the Senate is debating its version of the bill. If you have any questions, please contact your LMOP Territory Manager.

On April 1-2, 2009, LMOP participated in the 53rd Annual Great Plains Waste Management Conference in La Vista, Nebraska. The conference was organized by the Nebraska Water Environment Association. Lori Hamburg, of LMOP Industry Partner SCS Engineers, presented on behalf of LMOP during the Solid Waste Management track of the conference.

On April 9, 2009, LMOP presented information about LFG energy at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Campus, Chi Epsilon Chapter Meeting (a Chapter of the National Civil Engineering Honor Society). Lori Hamburg, of LMOP Industry Partner SCS Engineers, presented on behalf of LMOP. LMOP would like to thank Matthew Johnson, the Chi Epsilon Chapter President, for organizing the event.

On June 26, 2009, LMOP presented at the 5th Joint Conference of the Maryland Recycling Network and SWANA Mid-Atlantic Chapter annual meeting held at the University of Maryland. LMOP participated in a panel discussion focused on federal and state incentives for LFG energy projects resulting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. For more information, contact Chris Godlove (godlove.chris@epa.gov) at 202-343-9795.

Kansas Passes Renewable Portfolio Standard
In May 2009, Kansas enacted House Bill 2369 (PDF, 20 pp., 112 KB), which established a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). The Kansas Corporation Commission will establish rules and regulations to administer the RPS, which requires the state’s investor-owned utilities and certain cooperative utilities to generate or purchase a portion of their electricity from eligible renewable resources or purchase renewable energy credits. Examples of eligible renewable resources include methane from LFG and wastewater treatment, wind, solar thermal, and photovoltaics. At least 10 percent of the utility’s power must be renewable energy for years 2011-2015, with the standard increasing to 15 percent for 2016-2019, and 20 percent in 2020 and beyond. Kansas currently has four direct-use projects in place. LMOP’s database includes information about seven candidate landfills in Kansas with a total generation potential of nearly 11 MW. If you have interest in developing an LFG energy project in the state, please contact Swarupa Ganguli (ganguli.swarupa@epa.gov) at 202-343-9732.

Ohio Adopts Rules for Alternative Energy Resource Standard
In April 2009, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio adopted rules that implement the alternative energy portfolio standard created by Senate Bill 221 (PDF, 59 pp., 383 KB). Ohio’s alternative energy portfolio requires that, by 2025, at least 25 percent of electricity sold in Ohio must be generated from renewable and advanced energy resources. The renewable benchmarks begin in 2009 and increase annually toward an eventual target of 12.5 percent of retail electricity sales by year-end in 2024 and thereafter. At least half of the renewable energy facilities must be located in the state. Utilities can purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) generated after July 31, 2008. Utilities are not required to comply with the annual benchmark if doing so would raise their costs by 3 percent or more.

Ohio currently has six electricity-generating LFG energy projects in place generating nearly 39 MW, as well as 11 direct-use projects. Two additional LFG electricity projects are under construction, with an anticipated capacity of 11 MW. LMOP's database includes information about an additional 20 candidate landfills in Ohio with a total potential of approximately 56 MW. For more information about LFG energy opportunities in Ohio, contact Chris Godlove (godlove.chris@epa.gov) at 202-343-9795.

West Virginia Passes Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Act
In June 2009, Governor Manchin signed HB 103 requiring 25 percent of West Virginia’s electricity to be produced from alternative or renewable energy sources by 2025. The bill was effective July 1, 2009 and excludes municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and utilities serving fewer than 30,000 residential customers. The bill sets interim targets of 10 percent by 2015 and 15 percent by 2020. Eligible renewable resources include LFG, solar, and wind. West Virginia currently has no LFG energy projects, but the LMOP database includes information about 10 candidate landfills in West Virginia with a total generation potential of 17 MW. If you have interest in an LFG energy project in the state, please contact Chris Godlove (godlove.chris@epa.gov) at 202-343-9795.

The Climate Action Reserve (formerly the California Climate Action Registry) will be changing its rules that affect registration of voluntary LFG projects. Currently, the Reserve registers and issues carbon offset credits for projects that began capturing and combusting LFG after January 1, 2001. Starting November 17, 2009, the Reserve will accept only projects that are submitted within six months (before or after) of their start date. For more information about this deadline or to learn more about the Climate Action Reserve, please view an overview presentation (PDF, 15 pp., 323 KB) from the LMOP Conference earlier this year, visit their Web site, or contact Joel Levin (joel@climateactionreserve.org) at 213-891-6927.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, Deadline: August 4, 2009
The Internal Revenue Service released Notice 2009-33, which solicits applications for bond authority to issue new clean renewable energy bonds (CREBs). Eligible applicants include state and local governments, municipal utilities, electric cooperatives, and certain cooperative lenders. LFG energy projects can be financed with CREBs.

Southern California Edison Company, Deadline: August 14, 2009
Southern California Edison Company (SCE) is soliciting proposals to supply renewable electric energy products from eligible renewable energy resources (ERRs), including LFG. SCE will consider all timely proposals from any seller that proposes to sell a product to SCE from either a new or existing generating facility that is certified by the California Energy Commission as an ERR or multiple ERRs. For generating facilities not yet online, SCE encourages sellers to seek “pre-certification” as an ERR prior to the proposal due date. Although SCE will consider and evaluate proposals for out-of-state generating facility sites, SCE prefers proposals for in-state facilities.

American Electric Power, Deadline: August 31, 2009, and January 15, 2009
American Electric Power Service Corporation (AEPSC), a subsidiary of American Electric Power, is administering this request for proposals (RFP) on behalf of its seven utility subsidiaries. AEPSC is requesting bids which will result in obtaining up to approximately 1,100 MW of renewable energy resources that have a placed-in-service date of January 1, 2008, or later. LFG energy projects are eligible, but must be a minimum of 5 MW. Eligible projects should be or plan to be interconnected to the PJM Interconnection or the Southwest Power Pool. The first deadline of August 31, 2009, is for projects that are expected operational by December 31, 2010. The second deadline of January 15, 2009, is for projects that are expected operational by December 31, 2011.

CPS Energy, Deadline: September 1, 2009
CPS Energy, the municipal electric company of San Antonio, Texas has issued an RFP for the supply of electric energy from operators, owners, and/or developers of utility scale renewable energy generation facilities located within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. CPS Energy is soliciting up to 200 MW of renewable energy to be available no later than December 31, 2011. Eligible renewable energy generating technologies are those that meet the requirements of the Texas RPS, which includes LFG. For more information regarding this opportunity please contact Raul V. Cardenas (rvcardenas@CPSEnergy.com).

Community Renewable Energy Deployment, Deadline: September 3, 2009
The U.S. Department of Energy announced a funding opportunity for Community Renewable Energy Deployment. Funding, which was provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is restricted to state or local governments, or Native American tribal governments. The Department anticipates making up to four awards totaling up to $21.45 million to support the development of utility-scale community renewable energy projects, of which LFG is an eligible resource.

City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Deadline: September 15, 2009
The City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is soliciting bids (PDF, 31 pp., 182 KB) for the acquisition of RECs. The City seeks to purchase 15,000 MWh of RECs per year for a period of 10 to 20 years. This energy agreement will help the City meet its goal of obtaining 30 percent of municipal energy from renewable sources in 2010. The City prefers RECs sourced from Michigan or within the region, but all source locations will be considered. Preferable renewable resources include wind and solar, but other sources, including LFG, will also be considered.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Landfill Gas: Creating Green Energy in Your Community
LMOP has recently updated one of its informational brochures. The Landfill Gas: Creating Green Energy in Your Community (PDF, 31 pp., 182 KB) brochure provides an overview of LFG energy and describes the community, economic, energy, and environmental benefits of LFG energy. LMOP designed the document to be a useful marketing tool for landfill owners and project developers to promote LFG energy projects to the public. This brochure can be ordered from NSCEP/NEPIS - EPA's Gateway to Free Digital & Paper Publications. To order this document from the NSCEP/NEPIS Web site access it at item number 430F02013. Then add the item to your shopping cart, select the checkbox next to the item, and order the publication. To order more than one copy of the brochure at a time, contact NSCEP/NEPIS at 1-800-490-9198 or nscep@bps-lmit.com.

IRS Guidance for the Investment Tax Credit in Lieu of Production Tax Credit Election
The Internal Revenue Service released Notice 2009-52 (PDF, 6 pp., 15 KB), which outlines the procedures for taxpayers to claim a 30 percent investment tax credit under Section 48 of the Internal Revenue Code for qualifying renewable energy projects. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 created this financial incentive as an alternative to collecting production tax credits on the annual renewable electricity generated. Eligible facilities are those placed in service after December 31, 2008, and before January 1, 2014. LMOP summarizes in its fact sheet Federal Incentives for Developing Landfill Gas Energy Projects (PDF, 7 pp., 160 KB) key provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

University of New Hampshire Energy Project: EcoLine Landfill Gas Project
On May 19, 2009, Paul Chamberlin of the University of New Hampshire discussed the school’s EcoLine LFG energy project. The presentation (PDF, 16 pp., 1.7 MB) was part of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership Webinar focused on the use of biomass and biogas renewable energy resources. The University receives nearly 85 percent of the energy used by the campus from the EcoLine project and is the first campus in the country to use LFG energy as its primary fuel source.

EPA Releases Guide for Lead by Example Programs
EPA released Clean Energy Lead by Example Guide: Strategies, Resources, and Action Steps for State Programs (PDF, 192 pp., 3.1 MB) to help states identify key strategies, resources, and tools best-suited to their energy needs. States can “lead by example” through the establishment of programs that achieve substantial energy cost savings within their own buildings and operations, and demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of clean energy to the larger market. Utilization of LFG to create energy is one of the examples highlighted by EPA.

NREL Highlights Utility Green Power Leaders
In April 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) issued its annual assessment of leading utility green power programs. The assessment shows that more consumers are making clean power choices. According to the NREL analysis, more than 850 utilities across the United States now offer green power programs. Additionally, green power sales from renewable sources such as LFG, solar, and wind increased by about 20 percent since 2007. Among the most popular programs, green power sales represent more than 5 percent of total electricity sales. Listed among the top green power programs are the following LMOP Energy Partners: Austin Energy, City of Palo Alto Utilities, Emerald People’s Utility District, Indianapolis Power and Light, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

METHANE TO MARKETS

The Mexico Landfill Gas Model 2.0 is an update of the 2003 U.S. EPA’s Mexico Landfill Gas Model. U.S. EPA collected additional field data and applied advanced modeling techniques to update and refine the model.

The Ecuador Landfill Gas Model was developed by U.S. EPA to help landfill owners and operators and other interested parties evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of collecting and using LFG for energy recovery in Ecuador. The model was calibrated based on the experience gained through the pre-feasibility studies, pump tests, and data collection activities carried out by EPA in Ecuador.

International Activities
LMOP, in support of the Methane to Markets Partnership, has recently participated in a variety of international activities. In April 2009, LMOP co-sponsored a workshop with India’s Ministry of Urban Development and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on LFG energy for large cities. Officials from the City of Mumbai presented on their LFG project—the first in India to flare gas. Also in April, LMOP, in partnership with the Colombian Center for Cleaner Production, conducted a two-day workshop on landfill operations and maintenance best practices in Colombia. LMOP also traveled to Nigeria to provide training support for the country’s first landfill workshop, which included sessions on transitioning to sanitary landfills, landfill operations and maintenance, LFG energy basics, and project financing.

Also in April, LMOP conducted a training on landfill operations in Cordoba, Argentina. The workshop was co-organized by the Association for the Research of Solid Waste and the Secretariat of Environment of the Province of Cordoba. While in Argentina, LMOP met in Buenos Aires with representatives of the Secretariat of Environment and the Secretariat of Energy of Argentina to discuss strategies to develop LFG projects and offer additional training.

Also in April, LMOP promoted the development of LFG energy projects in Brazil with visits to participants in the Methane to Markets Partnership and other parties interested in LFG. Discussions focused on developing assessment reports of landfills’ LFG potential and opportunities for conducting training workshops.

Methane to Markets Partnership Expo – Call for Presentations
The Methane to Markets Partnership is calling for the submission of one-page presentation abstracts for the workshop and policy session component of the Partnership Expo, which will be held in India, March 2-5, 2010. The abstracts are due by August 15, 2009, and will be reviewed by the Methane to Markets Administrative Support Group and Sector Subcommittees. Notification of acceptance will be provided by December 1, 2009, and final presentations are due January 15, 2010.

Abstracts may cover any topic related to methane mitigation from the following general subject areas: landfills, agricultural sources, coal mining, oil and natural gas, and cross-cutting issues. Presentations should be about the deployment of commercially proven, third-party verified technologies, and not include marketing or research and development aspects.

NEW LMOP PARTNERS

To learn more about these Partners, please visit the Partner page on the LMOP Web site.

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