PPL Renewable Energy will develop and install a 6.4- megawatt methane-to-electricity power generation system at the Community Refuse Service Landfill in Shippensburg, Pa.

Community Refuse Service Landfill, an affiliate of Interstate Waste Services, will provide 3.2 million cubic feet of methane gas every day to power four Caterpillar generators at the 250-acre facility. The companies expect the project to be operational by December 31, 2008.

Methane-to-energy systems at landfills have a dual benefit for the environment -- they generate electricity from renewable fuel while also eliminating emissions of methane, a gas that contributes to global warming.

Methane is created when refuse in landfills decomposes.

"This renewable energy project will generate electricity in an environmentally friendly way," said Kurt Zwerko, vice president for PPL Renewable Energy. "When completed, this plant will prevent the equivalent of 39,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. That's equal to removing 53,000 cars from the road or planting 76,000 acres of new forest."

The power generated by the facility will be purchased by PPL EnergyPlus, which will market the generation output and renewable energy credits as part of a coordinated effort to increase development of renewable energy projects.

"Our company is committed to developing renewable energy projects that reduce methane gas emissions and have a positive impact on the environment," said Frank E. Celli, chief executive officer of Interstate Waste. "I am particularly excited about the inclusion of an educational facility at this site, which will help teach children about the benefits of renewable energy."

PPL Renewable Energy already has developed renewable energy projects that total more than 15 megawatts of generation -- enough to power 12,000 homes. These include solar panel installations and landfill gas projects in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In addition, PPL EnergyPlus purchases energy from the 24-megawatt Bear Creek wind farm near Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and the 26-megawatt Locust Ridge project in Mahanoy City, Pa. Other projects -- including new solar, landfill gas, wind and biomass -- are under development by PPL Renewable Energy.

PPL Renewable Energy develops, owns, operates and maintains renewable energy projects in the northeastern United States. The company will invest at least $100 million in additional renewable energy projects in the next five years.

NewsClip: PPL to Develop Renewable Energy Generating Facility at Landfill

11/30/2007