Date: February 11, 2010
Source: Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio
SWACO's Green Energy Center
When you fill up your car or truck with gas, it's one of life's routines that you may not give a second thought. But at SWACO, fueling up has become a greener experience. Instead of fossil fuel based energies, SWACO has tapped into a new source of power; trash!
SWACO presents The Green Energy Center. This innovative project at 4065 London Groveport Road (Grove City, Ohio 43123) turns landfill methane gas (from decomposing trash) into Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for use in cars and trucks. SWACO's Franklin County Landfill has been plumbed to harvest the methane as trash breaks down. Using Ohio developed technology, The Green Energy Center cleans the gas to pipeline quality and then compresses it for vehicle use.
This green fuel has already been put to use in SWACO's fleet. CNG powered Honda Civics ,light to medium duty Chevy and Ford pick-up trucks, a packer truck used for recycling collections, and even a riding lawnmower fill up at The Green Energy Center pump. Honda tells us CNG burns 75% cleaner in its vehicles. SWACO continues to meet with other local fleet owners to interest them in using our green CNG. Several other local governments have purchased CNG trucks.
At full capacity, phase one of the center can produce 250,000 gasoline gallon equivalents of CNG. U-S EPA estimates show our phase one has the same benefits as removing the annual emissions of 6,503 passenger vehicles, sequestering as much carbon annually as 8,070 acres of pine or fir forests, reducing CO2 emissions equal to 82,577 barrels of oil or reducing CO2 emissions equal to 4,030,423 gallons of gasoline.
Construction on phase two of The Center is expected to begin soon. That portion of the project will be owned and operated by SWACO partner, FirmGreen. When completed, The Green Energy Center will utilize all of the landfill gas available and have a capacity of 5 to 10 million gasoline gallon equivalents. However, gas from phase two could be directed to local utility pipelines. This could bring the Energy Benefits of heating more than 15,000 average homes, based on U.S. Department of Energy data for residential energy consumption.
Green Energy Center-2
SWACO is the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio. We believe today's throwaways are the foundation for tomorrow. In doing so, we act as a catalyst to bring about innovative waste reduction and recycling projects.
SWACO also provides consumers recycling opportunities around Franklin County (Ohio) through 200 recycling drop off-locations, at major sporting and entertainment venues, at Columbus City Schools, The Columbus Arts Festival and other locations. SWACO provides leadership and advice for businesses wishing to begin recycling and waste reduction programs as well. We also operate the Franklin County Landfill, three transfer stations, and other programs. More on SWACO at www.swaco.org.
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