“By securing long-term contracts for landfill gas, we can continue to serve our customers reliably and responsibly through our ongoing commitment to clean energy,” says Girish Balachandran, assistant director of resource management at City of Palo Alto Utilities.

The Buena Vista project is one of three that will help Palo Alto exceed its renewable energy goals and add to Alameda Power & Telecom's impressive portfolio of 80 percent renewables. Contracts with two other community landfills mean that Palo Alto and Alameda will be sharing a total of 18.6 MW of renewable energy in 2008 — enough to power nearly 1,200 homes for a year.

“Beneficial use of landfill methane derived from our community's waste stream has been one of our highest resource conservation priorities,” says Patrick Matthews, manager of Santa Cruz's recycling and solid waste services. “The Santa Cruz County Department of Public Works has been working many years to develop this renewable energy resource.”

Industry Partner of the Year

Ameresco: Framingham, Mass.

LMOP partner Ameresco continues to display its leadership by consistently developing innovative and flexible landfill gas energy projects. EPA selected Ameresco as Industry Partner of the Year — Ameresco's third LMOP award in five years. Three new projects in 2007, including a small, creative 800-kilowatt (kW) project, demonstrate Ameresco's ability to provide long-term environmental and economic solutions to landfills and the communities they serve.

In Northampton, Mass., Ameresco leveraged its experience and local resources to develop an economically viable project from a relatively low flow (400 scfm) of landfill gas. The company secured financing and owns and operates the 800 kW project that provides enough power to supply the equivalent of 500 homes annually. The city of Northampton will benefit from the use of landfill gas for years to come through reduced odor and cleaner air. Plus, the electricity helps meet the area's appetite for green power.

”Ameresco is proud to work with such great partners and to be a part of these exciting projects that have a positive, material impact to the environment and the surrounding communities,” says Mike Bakas, vice president of renewable energy at Ameresco.

Ameresco's 11 operational electric projects generate nearly 36 MW of renewable energy, while its two operational direct-use projects consume nearly 4,000 scfm of landfill gas. The combined annual energy savings is equivalent to powering nearly 23,000 homes and heating nearly 13,000 homes each year. Plus, the combined annual greenhouse gas reductions are equal to planting nearly 150,000 acres of forest, removing the emissions of 105,000 vehicles, or preventing the use of nearly 1.3 million barrels of oil.

Community Partner of the Year

Greater Lebanon Refuse Authority (GLRA) and PPL Energy Landfill Gas Energy Project: Lebanon, Pa.

GLRA and PPL Energy created and built a renewable energy education facility for local, national and international visitors. With the goal of “empowering our future leaders with green energy,” the project demonstrates the power of renewable energy from landfill gas, wind and solar energy, all at one site. Located at the GLRA landfill in Lebanon, Pa., the facility already has hosted more than 2,000 students, teachers and community groups.

With energy prices rising every day, GLRA and PPL Energy are demonstrating to the community that valuable renewable energy alternatives are available locally. The renewable energy project encompasses a 3,200-kW landfill gas energy project, a 2,000-watt wind turbine, and a 1,000-watt solar array — enough to power more than 2,000 homes for a year. From the classroom, students can view the landfill gas engines and monitor, in real time, how various renewable energy resources generate green electricity for the power grid.