Waste Management opens new renewable-energy power plant at landfill - 2006-01-27

Waste Management of Texas Inc. began operations of a new gas-to-energy power plant at its Covel Gardens Landfill that will convert enough landfill gas to power thousands of homes and businesses in San Antonio.

Waste Management formed a partnership with Houston-based Energy Developments Inc. to design, build and operate the power station. CPS Energy, San Antonio's gas and electric utility, in turn will purchase the energy to supply power to residents and businesses.
"Covel Gardens Landfill generates about nine megawatts of green energy that will be used to light up approximately 6,000 homes," says Covel Gardens Landfill Manager Ric Green. "This 'green' power source benefits the San Antonio environment and economy because it helps offset the need for non-renewable resources such as coal and oil."
Gas is naturally created as waste decomposes in a landfill. It can either be destroyed by a central flare or it can be captured and converted for use as a clean energy source.
"We are excited about acquiring this new supply of renewable energy; it benefits both our customers and our community," says Richard Peña, senior vice president of Energy Supply for CPS Energy. "This increment of electricity from landfill gas and our substantial amount of wind-generated electricity truly makes CPS Energy a state leader in renewables."
Energy Developments is a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Developments Ltd., an independent power producer founded in Australia in 1998.