Rumpke breaks ground on landfill gas-to-energy facility

Rumpke, Cincinnati, is partnering with Australia-based Energy Developments (EDL), with U.S. headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, to construct a landfill gas to electric generating facility at the Brown County Landfill in Georgetown, Ohio. The 4.8 megawatt facility is estimated to produce enough electricity to power nearly 3,000 homes. The electricity will go directly from the site to American Municipal Power (AMP), Columbus, Ohio.

“Rumpke has been on the forefront of landfill gas to energy projects,” said Bill Rumpke, Jr., president and CEO, Rumpke. “We started harvesting landfill gas at our site in Colerain Township in 1986 and today it remains one of the world’s largest landfill gas to direct energy pipeline systems. The Brown County system will be our third recovery system, and we are excited to see it come online.”

Landfill gas is produced through the natural process of decomposition. Currently, Rumpke recovers landfill gases through 80 gas wells throughout the site and directs the gases to a central flare system where they are destroyed.

“Recycling landfill gas allows us to reduce greenhouse gases produced at the site while at the same time providing the region access to a cleaner energy source. It’s a great example of elevating waste to a higher value-reuse as valuable energy,” Rumpke said. “We have been working toward this plant for years, and we are very excited to have found a long-term partner.”

“EDL is proud to partner with Rumpke on this project,” said Steve Cowman, president and CEO of EDL’s U.S. operating business. “The Brown County project fits in with our strategic growth plan to expand our U.S. renewable portfolio through the development of new greenfield sites.”

Rumpke and EDL broke ground on the gas to energy plant during a ceremony at the site on Nov. 3. The plant is expected to be operational by April 2017.