Klickitat PUD’s (Goldendale, Wash.) H.W. Hill Landfill Gas Project is an
extremely successful public-private partnership developed to protect
the environment. The concept is simple: capture the methane gas produced
by the Roosevelt Regional Landfill and use that gas to generate energy.
Generation
began at the H.W. Hill Landfill Gas Project in 1999 when Klickitat PUD
installed four Waukesha reciprocating engines converted to run on the
methane gas collected from the Roosevelt Regional Landfill. In 2000, an
additional engine was installed, bringing the generation capacity to
10.5 megawatts.
Klickitat
broke ground on expansion of the Landfill Gas Project in 2009 with
commercial operation beginning in October 2011. Two 10-megawatt
combustion turbine generators and a 6 megawatt steam turbine generator
were installed and four buildings were constructed to house the 10 new
systems needed to operate the project. The additional 26 megawatts of
capacity brings the project total to 36.5 megawatts. The project is one
of the largest and most advanced landfill gas plants in the world.
The
Roosevelt Regional Landfill was designed from the beginning with
generation in mind. Gas rights were retained by Klickitat County and
eventually transferred to Klickitat PUD. Allied Waste, who operates the
landfill, is required to maintain a gas collection system in order to
maximize the collection of methane for use in the generation facility.
Over two million tons of municipal solid waste is brought in by
long-haul rail transport each year, allowing the landfill to serve
customers efficiently and economically no matter their distance. At this
fill rate, the landfill has an 80-year life.
The
26- megawatt expansion has been certified by the California Energy
Commission and qualifies for the Washington State Apprenticeship Bonus
Program. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is a supporter of
landfill gas because “this technology is the only renewable source of
power that actually removes pollution from the air.”
As
the fuel supply increases, Klickitat PUD intends to evaluate developing
additional phases of the Landfill Gas Project to maintain its
commitment to renewable energy production.
