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 Documents, Tools and Resources
Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs
Reaching Out on a Local Level
Since 1998 the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs
(DCCA) has actively promoted renewable energy options for municipally
owned landfills. DCCA facilitates the development of landfill gas-to-energy
(LFGTE) projects throughout Illinois by meeting with candidate landfills
and publicly owned utilities to provide information and networking opportunities.
By encouraging the use of landfill gas and other renewable energy sources,
DCCA is helping communities in Illinois to protect the environment and
to take responsibility for their local energy needs.
Landfill gas issues are a hot topic in the state of Illinois, which
has over 50 active landfills. To address the growing need for information
and resources, Illinois has opened a resource center to field requests
pertaining to landfill gas issues. The resource center answers compliance
and permitting questions regarding landfill gas recovery, provides information
on funding opportunities, and matches potential partners with development
opportunities.
DCCA began laying the groundwork for renewable energy projects across
the state by offering grant money and information on the potential of
landfill gas recovery projects. Specifically, the state created the Alternative
Energy Bond Fund, which applies to commercial capital projects utilizing
renewable energy sources, including biofuels, solar, wind, hydroelectric
and geothermal power, as well as power generated from landfill or digester
gases. This bond fund helps to fund projects at up to 100 percent of capital
cost.
Landfill gas issues are a hot topic in the state of Illinois, which
has over 50 active landfills. To address the growing need for information
and resources, Illinois has opened a resource center to field requests
pertaining to landfill gas issues. The resource center answers compliance
and permitting questions regarding landfill gas recovery, provides information
on funding opportunities, and matches potential partners with development
opportunities.
DCCA began laying the groundwork for renewable energy projects across
the state by offering grant money and information on the potential of
landfill gas recovery projects. Specifically, the state created the Alternative
Energy Bond Fund, which applies to commercial capital projects utilizing
renewable energy sources, including biofuels, solar, wind, hydroelectric
and geothermal power, as well as power generated from landfill or digester
gases. This bond fund helps to fund projects at up to 100 percent of capital
cost.
In addition, by working closely with Landfill Methane Outreach Program
(LMOP) staff, DCCA has contacted utilities and facilities to explain applicable
state laws, such as the Retail Rate Law and subtitle D of the Illinois
Environmental Protection Act.
Since winning the 1998 LMOP State Ally of the Year Award, DCCA has completed
a new set of guidelines for grant funding for LFGTE facilities within
Illinois. Six candidate landfills have been contacted by project developers
and five landfills have begun developing grant applications since the
completion of the new guidelines. Each of these projects could produce
2 to 4 megawatts of power - enough to power up to 300,000 homes.
The State of Illinois recognizes the environmental benefits of capturing
and using landfill gas. By fostering renewable energy projects, the state
is helping the local and global environment by reducing the amount of
coal burned and mitigating the release of methane and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) into the air. By creating a resource center for information
and project assistance, the DCCA is motivating communities, utilities,
and landfills to form partnerships that work toward creating beneficial
projects that improve landfill management and safety. DCCA's innovative
approach to governing - creating a non-regulatory office to answer landfill
gas and other renewable energy questions - is a cutting-edge approach
toward creating environmentally stable program and policies.
Summary of Benefits
- Easy Access to LFGTE Information
- State-Wide Grant Programs
- Reduction in Methane and VOC Emissions
Lessons Learned
- States can help facilitate landfill gas project
development by providing resources and information. Having a resource
center provides interested parties easy access to information in one
central location.
- Follow-up calls can be key in linking partners
and getting projects moving forward.
- Help move states toward their goal of reducing
overall state methane emissions.
What Is Landfill Gas?
Most of the waste we generate ends up in landfills,
where it decomposes and produces landfill gas. Landfill gas released
into the air smells bad, contributes to local smog, and is an explosion
hazard. Additionally, landfill gas is about 50 percent methane,
a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change.
However, this methane is also a reliable and renewable fuel source
that, if not collected, goes to waste. |
The Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is a voluntary program
that assists project developers, utilities, landfill owner/operators,
energy users, and communities to encourage new landfill gas-to-energy
projects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed a variety
of tools (e.g., profiles, fact sheets, project development manuals, software,
etc.) to facilitate the development of landfill gas-to-energy projects.
Hundreds of landfills across the country are good candidates for a landfill
gas-to-energy project. To find out more, please contact LMOP.
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