Landfill Methane Outreach Program
Project Profile
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Escambia County - Gulf Power LFG Energy Project
Self Developed (Absence of third party developer) - Location:
- Pensacola, Florida
- End User(s):
- Gulf Power Company
- Sector(s):
- Utility
- Landfill(s):
- Perdido Landfill
- Landfill Size:
- 7.58 million tons waste-in-place (2007)
- Project Type:
- Reciprocating Engine (2 Caterpillar 3520C/SR4B generator sets)
- Project Size:
- 3.2 megawatts (MW)
- Environmental Benefits:
- Carbon sequestered annually by 3,000 acres of pine or fir forests, annual greenhouse gas emissions from 2,700 passenger vehicles, or carbon dioxide emissions from more than 33,000 barrels of oil consumed. Annual energy savings equate to powering nearly 1,900 homes. Estimated emissions reductions of 0.0039 million metric tons of carbon equivalents.
- LMOP Partners Involved:
- American Environmental Group, Caterpillar, Escambia County, GeoSyntec Consultants, HDR Engineering, Innovative Waste Consulting Services, Jones Edmunds, LFG Technologies
- Last Updated:
- 1/19/2011
In October 2010, Escambia County, Florida overcame significant challenges to bring a new landfill gas (LFG) energy project on line at the Perdido Landfill. Despite County leadership's disappointment with the landfill's initial, unsuccessful LFG energy project that began in 1997, Escambia County regrouped and developed a replacement project with Gulf Power Company, with help from LFG Technologies, which built and now operates the facility. This partnership allows the County to reduce harmful emissions from the landfill while generating income from the sale of LFG to Gulf Power, who sells the energy to residential and commercial end users.
Although the project required a daunting $1.47 million investment to expand the LFG collection system, which included 37 new extraction wells and 5,430 feet of LFG transmission line piping, the County was able to obtain $950,000 through Department of Energy Block Grant Funding available under the America Recovery & Reinvestment Act. Partial funding was also provided by the Escambia County LFG Expansion Program. The investment is expected to pay off, since the project is predicted to generate $1 million in revenue annually. Furthermore, the facility was designed for future expansion with room for two additional engines, increasing the total facility capacity from 3.2 MW to 6.4 MW.
The Perdido Landfill project benefits the environment, the County, and the community, and has operated at 97 percent up time since its inception in October 2010. In addition, the facility was specifically designed to provide educational areas for school groups to learn about LFG energy projects.
The project showcases how Gulf Power can partner with Escambia County and other communities to produce affordable renewable energy while providing tremendous benefits for our community and the environment...And it gives us an opportunity to teach schoolchildren about renewable energy. —Sandy Sims, Manager of Gulf Power Public Affairs