Vermont landfill gas-to-energy facility receives upgrading funds

The 10,900 members of Washington Electric Cooperative (WEC), based in East Montpelier, Vermont, will produce more green power from their investment in a landfill gas fueled facility located at the Coventry landfill using $1.7 million in new Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (new CREBs) financed through Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC).

The funding will cover enhancements and upgrades at the five-engine-unit, methane-fired power plant with a nameplate capacity of 8 megawatts. The facility generates today roughly 25 percent below its maximum output but we expect to see an increase in production of roughly 15 percent or 1.1 megawatts per hour.

“We’re a progressive and environmentally responsible cooperative, one that relies on renewable sources of power to meet 100 percent of our members’ needs,” says Patty Richards, Washington Electric Coop’s general manager. “The Coventry landfill gas project has provided 60 percent of our power today at affordable and stable prices. By replacing the existing scrubber system we are planning to remove harmful siloxane compounds from the gas stream, and we will greatly reduce maintenance activities and improve output while lowering emissions from the plant. We are projecting we’ll be able to produce up to 70 percent of WEC’s energy needs while improving air quality.”

The Coventry facility began producing 4.8 megawatts from landfill methane in July 2005; capacity was expanded in 2007 and 2009.

“The plant produces enough power to serve 6,500 Vermont homes. We are also able to produce power locally keeping dollars in the Vermont economy and bringing jobs to the Northeast Kingdom, an area of Vermont that can benefit from more employment opportunities,” Richards adds. “Competitively priced energy, combined with the sale of the renewable energy certificates, means that the Coventry project will deliver significant benefits to our members for many years to come.”

Linda Graham, CFC director of financial products, says the Washington Electric Coop deal follows IRS action last year to reallocate nearly $281 million in new CREBs for eligible renewable energy projects owned by electric cooperatives. The amount stems from $800 million in new CREBs previously earmarked for cooperatives by Congress, but not totally used.

WEC received a certificate of public good from state regulators and construction of the scrubber system is underway. The cooperative expects an online date of the new scrubber system in early December.