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 Documents, Tools and Resources
LANDFILL METHANE OUTREACH PROGRAM, CREATING PARTNERSHIPS AND POWER FROM LANDFILL
GAS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Methane Outreach
Program (LMOP) helps protect the environment and build a sustainable future
by promoting the recovery and beneficial use of landfill gas (LFG). LFG
contains methane, a potent heat trapping gas that can be captured and
used to power businesses, greenhouses, vehicles, and homes. By finding
ways to use this gas, LMOP helps prevent global warming and air pollution,
encourages development of a renewable energy source, and promotes local
economic development.
LMOP PARTNERS
LMOP fosters a network of Partners who promote the capture and use of
landfill gas as a renewable resource. More than 300 landfill owners and
operators, businesses, communities, states, and industry groups are current
LMOP Partners.
- State Partners include state air and solid waste departments,
energy and economic development offices, universities, and nongovernmental
organizations.
- Energy Partners include power providers, marketers, and
energy end users.
- Industry Partners include engineers, developers, consultants,
equipment suppliers, and landfill owners and operators.
- Community Partners include landfill owners and operators
and nonprofit organizations.
- Key Industry Trade and Public Sector Association Endorsers.
LMOP OFFERS SOLUTIONS
LMOP facilitates the development of LFG use projects through hands-on
assistance to Partners and stakeholders. With its available tools, information,
and experience, LMOP can tailor its assistance to individual landfills,
providing customized solutions to project challenges.
TECHNICAL RESOURCES
LMOP offers products and services to guide project stakeholders through
the development process, such as:
- Feasibility studies
- Identifcation of potential end users
- A project development handbook and software
- A brochure on the steps to LFG energy project development
- The LMOP database of operational, under construction, and planned
LFG projects and candidate landfills for potential development
- Technical fact sheets
FINANCING LFG PROJECTS
Securing funding for LFG projects is often the biggest hurdle to project
development. LMOP helps Partners think creatively about funding options
and find answers to tough financing questions. The Program’s experience,
tools, and network of experts provide communities and landfill owners
with easy access to information on appropriate funding sources. LMOP’s
Funding Landfill Gas Projects–A Guide to State, Federal, and Foundation
Resources provides the latest information on potential financing options,
such as grants, low-interest loans, and tax incentives.
PROJECT MARKETING
Having trouble marketing the benefits of your LFG use project? LMOP
works with communities, landfills, government officials, utilities, power
marketers, and developers to increase awareness and build support for
a project. LMOP outreach tools for Partners have already helped many new
projects address site-specific concerns. LMOP can also provide the necessary
tools to plan a ribbon cutting and site tour or to conduct outreach to
the media and community.
In addition, LMOP provides the following outreach tools:
- LFG and Green Power brochure
- Energizing Your Community with LFG video
- Landfill Gas Energy Projects: Public Health, Safety, and the Environment
fact sheet
- LFG energy project case studies
REGULATORY & OTHER ISSUES
LMOP works diligently to keep on top of critical issues affecting the
LFG industry. LMOP tracks and reports on regulatory and permitting developments,
legislative initiatives, and electricity restructuring efforts. LMOP can
also help landfills demonstrate the benefits of LFG use to the community
and regulatory agencies. Helpful LMOP materials include:
- State-specific primers, which outline the LFG project approval process
- How to estimate the environmental benefits of projects
- Renewable energy market information
NETWORKING & RECOGNITION
Through the Partner programs, LMOP creates a vital network of landfills,
states, communities, and companies interested in LFG use. Through this
network, LMOP lowers barriers and increases the likelihood that projects
will become operational. The networking support LMOP provides its Partners
includes:
- The LMOP Gasette and broadcast e-mails to bring Partners the latest
news and information
- An annual conference
- State workshops
- An annual awards program
- A Web site where Partner information is featured
SUCCESS STORIES
When the Blue Ridge Resource Conservation and Development Council
wanted to construct greenhouse facilities and craft studios on the closed
Yancey/Mitchell and Avery County landfill in North Carolina, it called
LMOP for help. LMOP presented the benefits of LFG utilization to the community,
conducted the initial feasibility analysis, suggested project design ideas,
and helped identify funding options. By working closely with local leaders
to answer community and technical questions, LMOP has helped ensure the
success of the Yancey/Mitchell and Avery projects.
The Screaming Eagle Landfill in South Carolina was
ready and eager to develop a LFG project but lacked a key ingredient:
a gas purchaser. Because of a lack of potential candidates, landfill owner
Waste Management, Inc., turned to LMOP for help. LMOP performed an energy
end-user analysis to search for potential energy users and evaluate candidates.
LMOP then facilitated a meeting between the landfill and the end user.
Because of LMOP’s assistance, this project is now under development.
Electric utility AMP-Ohio of Cleveland was interested
in ways to meet customer demand for green power. They asked LMOP to facilitate
a one-day training session on green pricing and green power marketing.
After the training session, AMP-Ohio issued a Request for Proposal for
35 MW of LFG energy. Consumers eager to protect the environment have already
committed to purchasing over 30 MW of this green power.
HOW TO BECOME PART OF THE LMOP NETWORK
Participation in LMOP is easy. Partners (landfill owners and operators,
communities, industry, states, and energy companies) can join the program
free of charge by signing a voluntary memorandum of understanding (MOU)
with LMOP. Under the conditions of this voluntary partnership, LMOP provides
technical and marketing assistance and information, while the Partner
helps with the identification, development, and promotion of LFG use projects.
Other organizations can participate as well. Simply contact LMOP to see
how the network can help you develop your LFG use project.
| More than 325 LFG energy projects are operational in the United
States. Together, these projects have achieved significant reductions
in the emission of methane, a potent heat trapping gas. They also
have prevented emissions of carbon dioxide and harmful air pollutants
such as sulfur dioxide, since using LFG for energy offsets the need
to use nonrenewable resources such as coal and oil. In 2001, operational
LFG energy projects in the United States prevented the release of
approximately 14 million metric tons of carbon equivalent. Emissions
reductions achieved from these projects provided the same climate
benefits as eliminating the emissions of 12 million cars for one year;
offsetting 132 million barrels of oil; or producing enough energy
to power almost 1 million homes for one year. |
By Mail:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Landfill Methane Outreach Program
Mail Code 6207J
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
By Internet:
www.epa.gov/lmop
EPA-430-F-02-013
Office of Air and Radiation (6207J)
October 2002
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