Changing pollutant landfills into clean, renewable energy
Over 60% of the USA's energy is still generated by fossil fuels. As the country’s population and economy grow, so does its demand for energy and goods. Not only does this pose the challenge of keeping up with a sustainable energy supply, but also recognising the negative implications of ever-growing landfill sites. One issue of this is the decomposition of organic matter in landfills, which generates large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times stronger than CO2.
To learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals verified by the standard for this project, please check the project's registry link above.
Located 80 miles west of Washington DC, the project activity is twofold: upgrading and expanding the landfill gas operating system; and installing new generators to repurpose methane emissions into renewable energy. This both effectively manages waste disposal and supplies clean, green electricity to the national grid.
The project is vital for keeping methane from heating the atmosphere and making use of its potential as a sustainable energy source. It also benefits the local community, with 12 jobs created for local workers and the reduction in air pollution improving the health of over 4,000 people who live close to the project area. Finally, 40 acres of land around the site has been protected from human intervention, further enhancing biodiversity and the conservation of our planet.
