Landfill Gas to Energy: Republic Services uses methane to power 1600 homes
By News10.net.
Methane is a normal by-product of decomposition in landfills. At Republic Services' Forward landfill in Eastern San Joaquin County, they have harnessed the methane and converted it into power. Republic Services, in cooperation with Ameresco, the largest renewable energy firm in the country, have constructed a 4.3 megawatt twin-turbine power plant next to the Austin Road landfill that runs on the methane pulled out of the nearby landfill. The generated power is sent to the PG&E grid and then to Silicon Valley Power, where it is used to supply 1600 homes in Santa Clara.