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4.8MW landfill gas-to-energy for 4,800 homes
Novi, Mich.-based Aria Energy announced in a Jan. 30 press release that it will partner with Casella Waste Systems to develop, construct, own and operate a 4.8MW landfill gas-to-energy project at the Juniper Ridge Landfill in Old Town, Maine.
According to the release, the facility, which will utilize methane gas generated through organic decomposition in the state-owned landfill, will potentially meet the power needs of more than 4,800 homes with renewable energy. Construction is expected to commence in early 2016 and the facility is expected to be operational in 2017.
“We are pleased to partner with Casella Waste Systems on the development, construction, and operation of this base load renewable energy project,” said Richard M. DiGia, Aria president and CEO. “The Juniper Ridge Landfill project adds to our portfolio of owned and operated landfill gas projects that play a critical role in powering more homes with electricity generated from renewable energy resources.”
Base load refers to energy demand that occurs continuously, day and night, seven days a week.
The press release noted that this project involves extracting gas from within the landfill and delivering the gas to a generation facility where it is converted into energy and will supply the New England electric grid.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), landfill gas-to-energy projects reduce reliance on non-renewable energy resources such as natural gas, coal, or petroleum. The EPA estimates that 4.8MW of energy produced from landfill gas is equivalent to preventing carbon emissions generated by the consumption of 24.4 million gallons of gasoline annually.
Aria Energy currently provides operation and maintenance services for three other landfill gas-to-energy facilities owned by Casella Waste Systems: a 6.4MW facility in Morrisonville, N.Y.; the 8MW Hyland facility in Angelica, N.Y.; and the 8MW Coventry facility in Newport, Vt. Aria also owns and operates the 11.2MW Ontario facility in Stanley, N.Y., at a landfill operated by Rutland, Vt.-based Casella.