Turning Trash Into Electricity

Doyon Utilities is building a power plant to harness the methane gas given off by decomposing garbage in the cities landfill and convert it into electricity.

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By Lauren Maxwell
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Story Created: Oct 22, 2011 at 7:40 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Oct 24, 2011 at 10:27 AM AKDT

You could call it “spinning garbage into gold” and it is happening at the Anchorage landfill. The city has found a way to sell the gas it gets from decomposing garbage to a company that will turn it into electricity.

Solid Waste Services Director Mark Madden says it’s a win for the city, which right now is simply burning the collected methane off into the air. And, any profits from the gas are going out the window as well.

Madden says the city has signed agreements with Doyon Utilities to sell them gas for a price that is expected to bring in more than one million dollars a year to city coffers. Doyon is also financing and constructing the power plant it will take to convert the gas into electricity.

The electricity that is generated isn’t going far--it will be used to provide power to the military base next door. JBER officials say the current should supply about 23 percent of all their power needs. It’s expected to be up and running in a little over a year.

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Anonymous said on Sunday, Oct 23 at 6:22 PM

turning anchorage into electricity

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