Power From Trash The New Green Electricity
December 26, 2008 | Filled Under Energy
Who ever thought we would be able to get power from trash?
Believe it or not, trash is a great use for alternative energy. Landfills are a breeding ground for organic matter found in mounds of waste that is consumed by bacteria. These give off gas rich in methane, which can be used to generate electricity and heat.
New York and New Jersey the use of landfill methane for power exceeds Solar Power. In Connecticut landfill methane powers generators that produce a total of 169 megawatts of electricity. That is almost as much as a small conventional generating station. According to the NY Times, landfill methane powers generators that produce 83 megawatts of electricity in New Jersey, 80 in New York and 6.1 in Connecticut.
The Landfill Methane Outreach Program says there is ample opportunity for energy-producing projects at more landfills within those states.
The E.P.A. claims that landfill methane becomes a greenhouse gas at least 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide, if it is not captured. WHich makes capturing methane from landfills important for our alternative energy.
Who would have ever guessed that trash could be used as a method of alternative energy?
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