[Press Release] : Columbia’s Biogas Energy Plant Dedication

[Press Releases]

You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of
Columbia’s Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided
links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.
______________________________________________________

MEDIA ADVISORY
December 3, 2007

Contact: Connie Kacprowicz
Public Information Specialist 
(573) 874-7325

Columbia’s Biogas Energy Plant Dedication

Tuesday, December 18, 2007
10 a.m.
City of Columbia Landfill
Columbia, Missouri

	(COLUMBIA, MO) - The city of Columbia is proud to announce the
opening of the landfill gas to energy project at the Columbia landfill.
This project will use the gas created when the waste decomposes to
generate 2.1 megawatts of renewable energy. This would supply
approximately 1.5 percent of Columbia’s energy use per year and grow
to as much as 2.5 percent over the next 5-10 years. This is the amount
of energy needed to power approximately 1,500 homes in Columbia. 
	The Columbia landfill has grown over the years and the amount of
landfill gas produced now makes it economically feasible to produce
electricity. In 2006, the Public Works Department opened a competitive
bid process to develop an economic use for Columbia’s landfill gas.
Columbia Water and Light was awarded the bid by the Columbia City
Council to build a landfill gas-to-energy plant. This project cost of
$2.85 million was partially funded through an electric bond issue passed
by voters in 2006. The plant was designed for an expansion.
	New Missouri legislation will increase Columbia’s landfill gas
production in the future. Senate Bill 54, passed by the State
Legislature in 2007, covered renewable energy issues. The new law allows
yard waste to be disposed in Columbia’s landfill because it is
creating renewable energy. This allowed Columbia to construct a
bioreactor at the landfill. 
	A bioreactor uses water to rapidly break down organic waste.
This accelerated decomposition process will produce more methane which
will create more renewable energy for Columbia. It is estimated that the
bioreactor will increase landfill gas production within five years. 

- 30 -
______________________________________________________

Archived press releases can be viewed online at: 
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Public_Information/Press_Releases/

______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or
subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and
follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Web_Mail/index.php