Houston County And Flint Energies Start Up Landfill Gas Generation Project

During a brief ceremony held at the Houston County www.houstoncountyga.com landfill recently, representatives of Houston County, Flint Energies and PowerSecure www.powersecure.com started up the new landfill gas power generators.

"This project produces benefits for county citizens and for Flint's member-consumers," said Jimmy Autry, Sr. Vice President at Flint Energies. The win-win proposal gives Flint members access to 3.2 megawatts (less than 1% of Flint's power needs) of environmentally "green power" at an affordable price, and creates a brand new revenue stream of income to the residents of Houston County.

"We are thrilled to elevate a partnership with Houston County which goes back many years," said Flint's Chief Executive Officer Bob Ray. "Houston County is a member of Flint, an ally, a partner, and a friend."

The start-up and commercial operation of the two power generators at the landfill culminate a project that began in 2008.

In Sept. 2008, Houston County agreed to negotiate a final contract for the use of its waste methane (landfill) gas. Flint will now buy the gas from the County and buy power generation output from PowerSecure International, Inc. who installed and will own and operate the generation plant facilities. The project is located at the landfill just off GA Highway 247 toward Hawkinsville.

"This partnership is good for our members who want and need new power generation resources, and for the residents of Houston County who can benefit from the revenues derived from what was considered waste," said Ray.

Renewable ‘green' energy is an important part of the future of power generation for Flint Energies members. "We were part of Green Power EMC's efforts to build renewable energy generation, including the first landfill gas in the State of Georgia at the Taylor County landfill in Mauk, Ray added."

Flint also demonstrates renewable energy generation with a solar panel installation at Huntington Middle School in Warner Robins. About 10% of Flint's power generation comes from hydroelectric power purchased from the Southeastern Power Administration.

As another benefit to the community, PowerSecure and Flint will make these green power generators a showplace for education of students and adults. One of the first tour groups to visit will be the Youth Leadership Class from Warner Robins on Jan. 12.

Ray noted that the Houston County landfill has already won the 2007 Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) silver excellence award in landfill management for the second best landfill in the United States.

"This will continue a tradition of excellence for the County landfill," Ray added. "Tommy Stalnaker and his team are to be commended for being such good stewards of the County's resources.

Ray explained that "green power" is electric energy generated by renewable, more environmentally-friendly sources. These types of generators have less air, water and natural resource impacts. Landfill gas as a renewable resource is considered biomass power generation. Other types of biomass generation might include the burning of wood waste or chicken litter.

Landfill gas, largely methane, is produced when the materials in large landfills decompose. Previously, Houston County was piping the gas to the surface and "flaring" or burning it off to dispose of it. These greenhouse gases are 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. The alternative to burning methane gas as a waste product is to capture it and use it as a fuel for power generation.

The Houston County landfill is slated to have an extremely long life, approximately 40 to 50 years. As the landfill grows, the quantity of the methane gas will also grow.

This agreement accrues other benefits to Flint Energies and its members. The new substation, which was built onsite, improves reliability to Flint's members in that part of Houston County. Since three-phase electric power lines were built to the landfill for the first time, Flint is increasingly prepared for new residential and industrial growth in this area.

In addition to this relationship, Houston County is Flint's third largest electricity user. In the past, Flint has been chosen as the electric power provider for the Judicial Complex on Perry Parkway in Perry. Flint Energies has also assisted the County with the installation of backup generation for the E-911 center, and selected water and sewer facilities.

SOURCE: PowerSecure International, Inc.