 | |  Greenville Gas Producers, LLC and Greenville County, South Carolina
| Location | Greer, South Carolina | | End User(s) | Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC | | Sector(s) | Utility | | Landfill(s) | Enoree Landfill, Phase II | | Landfill Size | 2.6 million tons waste-in-place (2007) | | Project Type | Reciprocating Engine (two Caterpillar G3520 engines) | | Project Size | 3.2 megawatts (MW) | | Environmental Benefits | Carbon sequestered annually by 31,000 acres of pine or fir forests, annual greenhouse gas emissions from 25,000 passenger vehicles, or carbon dioxide emissions from 319,000 barrels of oil consumed. Annual energy savings equate to powering 2,000 homes. Estimated emissions reductions of 0.0375 million metric tons of carbon equivalents. | | LMOP Partners Involved | Advance One Development, Caterpillar, Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Duke Energy Generation Services, Enerdyne Power Systems, GC Environmental, Golder Associates, Greenville County, SC, Greenville Gas Producers, LLC |
 Hindered by wheeling fees to sell electricity to the local utility, Greenville Gas Producers sought other avenues to make the landfill gas (LFG) energy project at Enoree Landfill financially viable. Their persistence and ability to overcome barriers has resulted in a community asset with globally beneficial reductions in greenhouse gases. In recognition of their efforts, LMOP awarded them Project of the Year for 2008.
The project is believed to be the first U.S. LFG energy project to have its carbon credits validated and certified under the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS). VCS is a stringent and highly respected methodology to demonstrate that the reductions are real, additional, measurable, permanent, and independently verified. The ability to sell carbon credits improves the financial returns of the project.
Since the local utility could not buy the power, the project team had to build a power line to Duke Energy Carolinas' closest distribution line, which was on the other side of a river. This resulted in the need for additional permits and approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, two wetland boards, and various state agencies. Also in the path of the proposed connection were two natural gas distribution lines, another power line, three major roads, and numerous private landowners' properties. Rather than returning to the chalkboard, Greenville Gas Producers began researching and contacting the appropriate parties about the feasibility of this option. As a result, they obtained the necessary permits and easements to begin construction of the project.
Other project highlights include the following:
- Gas control and collection system consisting of 51 vertical gas collection wells was also connected to 25 existing leachate cleanouts to extract additional LFG
- Gas treatment reduces siloxane content from parts per million to parts per billion based on initial laboratory testing; gas cleaning technology could increase the life expectancy of the engine
- Greenville Gas Producers operates and manages the project at no cost to the county
The county's Enoree Landfill closed in 2007 and currently 1,250 cubic feet of LFG per minute is captured and utilized. The project is expected to produce electricity for at least 15 years. The selection of the Caterpillar G3520 engines allows modular units to be easily moved to another site once the LFG production declines below economical flows.
The County of Greenville is dedicated to improving the air quality of our environment and our community. By combining the benefits of carbon destruction, power production, and the added sale of carbon credits, this project will be an asset to the community for decades to come. —Butch Kirven, Chairman, Greenville County Council Last Updated: 1/9/2009
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