NEWS -
MODERN TURNS TO METHANE
New plant will transform gas into electricity
By Patrick J. Bradley
Niagara Gazette
Tuesday, February 20, 2001
LEWISTON - The Modern Corporation soon will be harnessing a by-product of its giant Model City landfill to provide for its energy needs.
The multi-million dollar waste handling and recycling firm has signed an agreement with Innovative Energy Systems of Clarence to convert methane gas generated by decomposing waste into electricity at a 5.6 megawatt generating facility being built adjacent to the landfill. The power plant is scheduled to go on line the first week of May, Innovative Energy President Peter H. Zeliff said.
" About one-fifteenth of the plant's capacity will be sold to Modern. This plant will generate enough electricity for 10,000 average homes, " Zeliff said. Modern, which is leasing land for the power plant to Innovative Energy, will buy its power at cost. Electricity not used by Modern will be sent to the state's power grid, where it will be sold to New York's Independent System Operator the not-for-profit organization that buys electricity from producers and sells it on a competitive basis to the state's power suppliers.
"We want to have the opportunity to play the market," Zeliff said.
Gary E. Smith, Modern's chief operating officer, said the plant will be fueled by a collection system of slotted pipes, sumps and pumps installed under and around the landfill.
"Essentially, we are sucking the gases out of the hill," Smith said.
Smith said decomposing waste releases several gases. About 50 percent is methane, which possesses half the heating potential of natural gas. The other 50 percent is a combination of gases that possesses the characteristic noxious smell associated with landfills.
"Right now, we're burning it all for odor control." Smith said. "The next logical step is to harness it for its energy potential."
Smith said Innovative Energy will invest about $6 million in its new power plant while Modern is investing several million dollars in the collection system. Along with low-cost electricity, Modern's eligible for federal energy credits.
"That will be part of our payback," Smith said. "We'll also be looking for other uses - greenhouse projects and things like that."
When completed, the Model City power plant will be Innovative Energy's fourth, joining a facility in Lancaster and two others at the Seneca Meadow landfill in Seneca Falls.
"I'll have two employees here full time, then three others that go between the plants," Zeliff said. "The guys that work here will basically do preventive maintenance and keep the plant running."
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2/20/2001 Methane Power Plant