Clean Energy will build a landfill gas processing facility at the Sauk Trail Hills Landfill in Canton, with which to clean up biogas emitted from the landfill.
Some of the renewable gas recovered from the landfill will be used to power Republic’s vehicle fleet, with remaining gas injected into the natural gas pipeline network.
The processing plant is expected to begin production in early 2012, producing the equivalent energy to 6 million gallons of diesel each year.
Andrew J Littlefair, Clean Energy President and CEO, said: “We are delighted with the opportunity to partner with Republic, the nation’s second largest solid waste company, in this new sustainable energy venture. This underscores and expands a major new business direction for Clean Energy, with the goal of supplying renewable natural gas fuel to tens of thousands of natural gas vehicles operating across America.”
Biomethane
Biomethane, which is produced in landfills by the break-down of organic waste in anaerobic conditions, can cut greenhouse emissions by up to 88% when used as a fuel instead of diesel or gasoline, according to Clean Energy.
Clean Energy already produces biomethane at its own landfill facility in Dallas, Texas, which is also injected into the natural gas pipelines.
The biogas from the Sauk Trail Hills site that is injected into the natural gas pipelines will offset natural gas used by Clean Energy’s customers in its national network of natural gas fueling stations.
“This is truly an innovative project that provides Republic with a beneficial use for our landfill gas and gives us the flexibility for use in Republic’s markets where it meets our growing natural gas fleet’s operational needs,” said Don Slager, president and COO of Republic, which has its head office in Phoenix, Arizona.
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