RENEWABLE SOLUTIONS GROUP AND REPUBLIC SERVICES OF GEORGIA
COMMENCES GAS DELIVERIES FROM HIGH Btu LANDFILL GAS PROJECT IN GEORGIA
State-of-the-Art Technology Converts Landfill Gas to Clean, Renewable Energy
(WINDER, Ga.) January 13, 2009 – Renewable Solutions Group and Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) today announced the initial deliveries of renewable gas from a purification facility converting landfill gas (“LFG”) to pipeline-quality gas (“High Btu”) for use as an energy source for homes and businesses in Georgia. The Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia purchases the gas as a locally produced, cost-effective source of renewable energy for its residential and commercial customers.
The plant, located at Republic’s Oak Grove landfill in Winder, Georgia, was completed, commissioned and began operations just last month, in December of 2008. The project not only offers economic cost-savings which are passed along to thousands of Georgia residents, commercial and industrial establishments in the cities of Winder and Buford, but also provides significant environmental benefits as well.
According to the EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program emission reductions and environmental and energy benefits calculator, the plant’s full capacity (over 2,500 dekatherms per day) will supply enough fuel to heat 10,500 homes. The process also results in the reduction of 44,500 tons of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere each year. CO2 is a significant contributor to smog and other harmful pollutants.
“Renewable Solutions Group and Republic Services are pleased to see this project come to fruition with the plant now operating and the first delivery of pipeline-quality gas. The landfill gas has been converted from a costly waste stream to a renewable energy source for Georgia residents,” said David Wentworth, president of Renewable Solutions Group. “We’re thrilled to provide cost-effective, clean, reliable energy to the region to help significantly improve regional air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that impact climate change.”
“We’re excited to become the first provider in Georgia to offer this competitively priced source of gas to our members,” said Arthur Corbin, CEO of the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia. “Thousands of Georgia residents will directly benefit by having their homes heated by this renewable fuel and thousands more will benefit from cleaner air, and from living in progressive communities which are focused on removing harmful emissions from the environment.”
Republic Services, a leading provider of environmental services, uses innovative technologies to capture and use renewable energy from decomposing waste in landfills. “With the Oak Grove plant now operational, Republic Services and Renewable Solutions Group have together achieved a significant goal to initiate and complete this innovative landfill gas beneficial use project,” said Bill Held, director of landfill gas projects for Republic Services, Inc. “We realize the environmental and economic value of these types of projects and congratulate our partner Renewable Solutions Group for implementing this innovative and productive use for the methane that is produced in the landfill.”
LFG, which is created when organic material in a municipal solid waste landfill decomposes, consists of about 50% methane (CH4), which as a greenhouse gas is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The LFG from the Oak Grove Landfill is collected, processed and sold as pipeline-quality gas.
The Renewable Solutions Group High Btu facility has very low air emissions impact, but can produce sales gas up to 2,500 MMBtu per day. The Oak Grove project will produce about 1.0 Bcf (1 million MMBtu) per year at design capacity.
Emission Reductions for a typical RENEWABLE High Btu Project (1,000,000 MMBtu/Year):
NOx -- 17 tons/year
Carbon Dioxide -- 45,000 tons/year
REC Potential --75,000 MWh/year
Background Information on Landfill Gas
What is landfill gas (LFG)?
Landfill gas is created when organic waste in a municipal solid waste landfill decomposes. This gas consists of about 50% methane (CH4), the primary component of natural gas; abou45% carbon dioxide (CO2); and a small amount of non-methane organic compounds. Instead of allowing LFG to escape into the air, it can be captured, converted, and used as an energy source. Using LFG helps to reduce odors and other hazards associated with LFG emissions and helps prevent methane from migrating into the atmosphere and contributing to local smog and global climate change.
How can landfill gas be used for energy?
Landfill gas is a readily available, local and renewable energy source that offsets the need for fossil-based resources such as coal and oil. Landfill gas can be converted and used in many ways: as a pipeline-quality gas, a direct, medium Btu fuel, to generate electricity, heat, or steam; as an alternative vehicle fuel to fuel fleets like school buses, taxis, and mail trucks; or in niche applications like microturbines, fuel cells and greenhouses. Of the 2,300 or so currently operating, or recently closed, MSW landfills in the United States, about 380 have LFG utilization projects. However, the EPA estimates that as many as 600 additional landfills could cost-effectively have their methane turned into an energy resource.
What are the economic benefits of using landfill gas as a resource?
Landfill gas projects are a win-win opportunity for all parties involved, whether they are the landfill owner/operators, the local utility, the local government, or the surrounding community. Even before LFG projects produce profits from the sale or use of energy, they produce a related benefit for communities: jobs. Landfill gas projects involve engineers, construction firms, equipment vendors, and utilities or end-users of the power produced. Much of this cost is spent locally for drilling, piping, construction, and operational personnel, providing additional economic benefits to the community through increased employment and local sales. Once the LFG system is in place, the captured gas can be sold for use as heat or fuel or be converted into electricity. In so doing, the community can turn a financial liability into an asset.
What are the environmental benefits of using landfill gas as an energy resource?
Converting LFG to energy offsets the need for non-renewable resources such as coal and oil, and reduces emissions of air pollutants that contribute to local smog and acid rain. In addition, LFG projects help curtail global climate change, because they reduce emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide. LFG projects go hand-in-hand with community commitments to cleaner air and reductions in greenhouse gases that cause global climate change.
What are the other benefits of using landfill gas as an energy resource?
By participating in LFG project development, a community is being innovative and responsible with local resources, and can even enhance its image as an environmental leader. Reducing LFG emissions by converting them to energy reduces local ozone levels and smog formation, and improves overall landfill management. This makes the area surrounding the landfill a better place to live. A community that uses its LFG is both a steward of the environment and a leader in ensuring the well being of its citizens.
About Renewable Solutions Group LLC (RENEWABLE)
Renewable Solutions Group LLC (RENEWABLE) provides innovative, in-house expertise in engineering and process design for renewable energy technologies with primary focus on landfill gas (“LFG”) to pipeline-quality gas (“High Btu”). RENEWABLE’s principals represent a combined 35 years of design, development, and construction experience in the LFG to energy sector. As both project developer and owner, its business activities include: design and development of LFG-based cogeneration applications; LFG-based power generation; renewable energy project acquisition analysis; and work in the environmental and renewable energy credit markets. RENEWABLE also maintains a consulting practice, with numerous ongoing engagements with private, commercial and institutional clients throughout the U.S. and abroad. Additionally, the principals of RENEWABLE pioneered the design and development of the first High Btu LFG projects employing membrane-based separation technology in North America.
About Republic Services, Inc.
Republic Services, Inc. is a leading provider of services in the domestic, non-hazardous solid waste industry. We provide non-hazardous solid waste collection services for commercial, industrial, municipal, and residential customers through 427 collection companies in 40 states. We also own or operate 255 transfer stations, 219 solid waste landfills and 86 recycling facilities. Republic serves millions of residential customers under terms of contracts with more than 3,000 municipalities for waste collection and residential services. We also serve some commercial customers throughout our expansive service area.
Since incorporation, Republic Services has been committed to the essential components of integrated solid waste management services: collection, recycling, composting, transfer, and disposal. Each division of Republic Services is dedicated to preserving the environment while providing the most cost-effective programs for solid waste collection and disposal.
Republic Services has broad expertise in the waste management field, derived from a diverse array of hauling, transfer, recycling, and disposal operations. Very few companies can equal the operational capabilities, financial stability, capital resources, broad experience, geographic dispersion, integrated infrastructure, or transfer expertise that Republic Services brings to a project.
About Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia
The Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia (“MGAG”) is the largest non-profit natural gas joint action agency in the United States, serving 76 Members in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Pennsylvania and Tennessee who meet the gas needs of approximately 240,000 customers. The Gas Authority was formed in 1987 by an Act of the Georgia General Assembly to assist Municipal Members who own and operate natural gas distribution systems. Members' systems are located on three interstate pipelines: Southern Natural Gas Company (Southern Natural), Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (Transco) and Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation (Texas Eastern).
MEDIA CONTACTS
Matt Scofield, Renewable Solutions Group - (404) 604-2608
Will Flower, Republic Services Inc. - (954) 769-6392
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