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PA Governor Rendell Announces State's First Multiple-Customer Landfill-Gas-to-Energy Project in Lancaster County

Posted on: Tuesday, 18 October 2005, 15:00 CDT

NARVON TOWNSHIP, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the state has its first multiple-customer, landfill-gas-to-energy project at Lanchester Landfill in Lancaster County. The venture, which was funded in part by a $235,000 Pennsylvania Energy Harvest grant, is another innovative way to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

"Landfill gas emitted from decomposing garbage is a reliable and renewable fuel option that remains largely untapped at landfills across the state," Governor Rendell said. "We have a unique opportunity to power our economy by putting to use energy resources that otherwise are wasted and threaten our environment. This project captures landfill methane and converts it to electricity, offering customers a clean, reliable and affordable energy source."

Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty today inaugurated the multiple-user facility. Granger Energy of Honey Brook began the Lanchester Landfill gas utilization project in December 2004 with a gas treatment and compressor system to supply treated gas to several companies to use in place of natural gas in boilers and processes, displacing their reliance on natural gas. The landfill is owned and operated by the Chester County Solid Waste Authority and takes waste from Chester County and Caernarvon Township, Lancaster County.

The company began selling recovered landfill methane gas to Dart Container, one of Leola's largest manufacturers. Since then, two other facilities have been approved to use the treated landfill gas in their boilers: Advanced Food Products and L&S Sweeteners. Granger anticipates providing energy to an additional company, New Holland Concrete.

Granger used its Energy Harvest grant for a landfill-gas-fueled Caterpillar 3516 Engine Generator Unit and switchgear. The engine will be used to generate electricity to be used by the facility, selling any remaining electricity to the grid. The application for the engine is under review by the Air Quality Program in DEP's Southcentral Region Office.

McGinty said that on an annual basis, enough landfill gas will be utilized through the Lanchester project to save 122,800 barrels of oil, offset the use of 250 railcars of coal, provide greenhouse gas reduction benefits equal to planting 15,600 acres of forest, remove the emissions of 11,550 cars or heat 33,900 homes.

Governor Edward G. Rendell has been recognized for his leadership in clean energy initiatives. Former President Bill Clinton recently cited the Governor and Pennsylvania for developing new strategies and technologies that improve the environment and economy through clean energy. The Governor's cutting-edge clean energy initiatives were highlighted at Clinton's inaugural international conference of world leaders in business and government last month in New York City.

Governor Rendell has put Pennsylvania in a frontrunner position in addressing the country's dependence on foreign oil by supporting the nation's first-ever waste-coal-to-diesel plant and creating a fuel consortium that will purchase nearly all of the 40 million gallons of cheaper, cleaner diesel fuel that will be produced at the Schuylkill County facility, which is being built by Waste Management and Processors Inc. The consortium is a powerful new tool that will provide the long-term security needed to finance construction of more of these innovative plants.

Pennsylvania also is home to one of the nation's most progressive alternative energy portfolio standards, ensuring that in 15 years, 18 percent of all energy generated comes from clean, efficient sources. Pennsylvania is one of two states with a portfolio standard that includes energy efficiency. Benefits include $10 billion in increased output for Pennsylvania, $3 billion in additional earnings and between 3,500 and 4,000 news jobs for residents over the next 20 years.

Governor Rendell's Growing Greener II initiative provides significant resources to build on the success of other energy initiatives, including up to $10 million annually for the newly revitalized Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority. The commonwealth has available up to $1 billion to provide financing to help build clean power and fuel plants.

The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest grant program funds projects that build markets for advanced and renewable energy technologies that use biomass, wind, solar, small-scale hydroelectric, landfill methane, energy efficiency, coal- bed methane and waste coal. The program has awarded $10 million and leveraged another $26.7 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003.

The Governor also is actively promoting the development of a new manufacturing sector that focuses on advanced and renewable energy systems, energy efficiency and conservation, and clean advanced energy businesses, and encouraging companies that are located elsewhere to consider establishing manufacturing, sales, marketing and distribution centers in Pennsylvania.

Governor Rendell recently signed an executive order, "Energy Management and Conservation in Commonwealth," that ensures maximum efficiency in energy management and conservation in state facilities through the implementation of a centralized energy strategy. This measure will decrease energy consumption and energy costs and promote a cleaner environment.

More recently, Governor Rendell announced a plan to replace some 25 percent of the state's vehicle fleet with hybrids by 2011.

For more information on these energy initiatives, visit the state's Web site at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/, Keyword: "Alternative Energy."

The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/.

CONTACT: Kate Philips 717-783-1116 Kurt Knaus 717-787-1323

Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

CONTACT: Kate Philips, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,+1-717-783-1116, or Kurt Knaus, Pennsylvania Department of EnvironmentalProtection, +1-717-787-1323

Web site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/http://www.dep.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire

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