DIXON — Ameresco and Republic Services have launched a renewable natural gas facility at the Lee County Landfill, an 11.7 megawatt project capable of processing up to 4,500 standard cubic feet of landfill gas per minute. Officials say the plant, which began operations in June, can reduce emissions by more than 61,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, the equivalent of eliminating 1.2 million dekatherms of fossil fuel use.
Ameresco’s Michael Bakas said the benefits have an immediate impact on the environment.
“Right now I think we’re pulling about 3,600, so it’s about 2,000 to 2,200 dekatherms a day. It’s a lot of gas. As a matter of fact, we equate it to how many cars removed , I think it was like 15,000 cars removed from the air.”
Tom Demmer, executive director of the Lee County Industrial Development Association noted it is a great idea.
“This is a great example of how one man’s waste is another man’s treasure and really making a productive use out of it today.”
The renewable fuel is injected into a Kinder Morgan pipeline for use at CNG stations, supporting Illinois’ renewable energy goals while helping Republic Services advance its pledge to reuse more than half of landfill biogas by 2030.
