One of California\u2019s largest renewable energy projects, a landfill-gas-to-energy station at Republic Services\u2018 Ox Mountain Landfill in Half Moon Bay, has been generating renewable energy for the cities of Alameda and Palo Alto. The annual electricity generated by the Ox Mountain project prevents the release of 71,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. That is the equivalent of taking 11,800 cars off the road.<\/p>\n
Alameda Municipal Power purchases 85 percent of its power from renewable energy resources. The Ox Mountain plant alone provides approximately 11 percent of the electricity consumed in the East Bay community. This new facility is one of four landfill-gas-to-energy resources presently powering Alameda. As a result more than 20 percent of Alameda\u2019s power is being generated by landfill-gas-to-energy plants.<\/p>\n
As a result of its utility\u2019s power portfolio, Alameda ranks among the lowest in greenhouse gas emissions in California. Known as \u201cThe Greenest Little Utility in America,\u201d environmental responsibility has been a major criterion in power resource selection and development by the utility since the 1980s. \u201cThe landfill-gas-to-energy project at Ox Mountain allows us to offer our customers another carbon-free source of power, and continue our quarter century commitment to renewable energy,\u201d said Ann L. McCormick, P.E., President of the City of Alameda Public Utilities Board.<\/p>\n
The nearby city of Palo Alto similarly had adopted goals of meeting 33 percent of its electric needs by 2015 with new qualifying renewable resources like the Ox Mountain Landfill. Palo Alto\u2019s share of the project was projected to supply about 4 percent of the city\u2019s electric needs. \u201cMaking use of this renewable energy resource reduces the amount of market power we have to purchase, which reduces the need for fossil fuel-powered electric generation in California,\u201d said Peter Drekmeier, former Mayor of the City of Palo Alto. \u201cBy burning methane, which is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, this project has the added benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the landfill.\u201d<\/p>\n
Landfill gas is created when organic waste in landfills decomposes, producing methane\u2013the primary ingredient in natural gas and a greenhouse gas. The landfill gas to energy plant captures the methane and turns it into electricity for use by residential and business customers. Converting landfill gas to energy prevents the release of greenhouse gases and creates electricity from a renewable, affordable source\u2014reducing the need for power created from fossil fuels.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe commissioning of this significant renewable energy resource for the people of California is another example of Republic\u2019s commitment to the environment,\u201d said Jeff Andrews, Senior Vice President West Region, Republic Services, Inc. \u201cThis is a larger plant in terms of renewable electricity production from landfill gas, and also represents the current best available technology for emissions controls, making it an extremely clean renewable energy source.\u201d<\/p>\n