Waste Management Inc. (WM) said that it will soon use everyday garbage, along with McMinnville Water & Light, to generate power for thousands of Oregon homes, following the its new energy plant at the company's landfill west of McMinnville.
The plant is a first for Yamhill County and another investment signaling Waste Management's commitment to renewable energy and innovative, sustainable technologies, the company noted.
The $10 million project will work by collecting methane gas from the landfill through a network of underground pipes. From there, the gas will be used to power engines, which will then generate electricity on-site for sale to McMinnville Water & Light. The plant will produce enough electricity to power 2,500 homes.
The plant is expected to be operational in mid-2010, and if the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners approves Riverbend's application to expand, it will generate energy for McMinnville over the next 30-50 years.
Waste Management said it is also developing a similar energy plant at its Columbia Ridge Landfill, located in Arlington, Ore., which is expected to go on-line later this year.
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