Oak Grove Landfill

Location: Winder, Georgia End User(s): Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia (MGAG) Sector(s): Utility Landfill(s): Oak Grove Landfill Landfill Size: 11.7 million tons waste-in-place (2006) Project Type: High Btu Project Size: 2, 400 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) Environmental Benefits: Carbon sequestered annually by 6, 400 acres of pine or fir forests, annual greenhouse gas emissions from 5, 700 passenger vehicles, or carbon dioxide emissions from 69, 600 barrels of oil consumed. Annual energy savings equate to heating 8, 200 homes. Estimated emissions reductions of 0.0082 million metric tons of carbon equivalents. LMOP Partners Involved: Air Liquide-MEDAL, Golder Associates, Inc., Renewable Solutions Group LLC, Republic Services, Inc. Last Updated: 7/7/2010

In February 2009, a public/private partnership launched the first high Btu landfill gas (LFG) energy project in Georgia. At the Oak Grove Landfill, LFG is collected, cleaned, and injected into two local natural gas lines for distribution to residential and commercial consumers. The project produces enough high Btu gas to heat more than 8, 000 homes.

Recognized as an LMOP 2009 Project of the Year, the project demonstrates how a public/private partnership overcame barriers and applied innovative technologies. Project developer Renewable Solutions Group expects demonstration of these technologies will lead to application at other high Btu projects:

• An ammonia-based refrigeration system cools and dewaters LFG before it is compressed for membrane processing.
• A complete gas interchange obtains flexible sales gas specifications, which leads to higher yields and easier plant operation.
• Individual wells across a non-segmented gas collection and control system are adjusted to maintain regulated pressure, oxygen, and temperature thresholds.

When the project team learned that the closest Winder natural gas utility pipeline was not large enough to handle the full capacity of the project, the team designed and constructed a dedicated 5-mile pipeline to connect to a neighboring pipeline owned and operated by the Buford natural gas utility. An additional tie-in was constructed to connect Buford back to Winder, enabling delivery of gas from both local distribution companies to the gas buyer, Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia.

Renewable Solutions chose the high Btu project type for greater environmental and economic returns. The project prevents the release of 15 tons per year of NOX and 42, 000 tons per year carbon dioxide. The City of Winder expects to earn about $250, 000 per year from its gas utility. The project is paid for through the sale of the gas, not through tax incentives or grants.

This innovative process of turning trash into a renewable, clean energy for our citizens... is a fine example of how we can leverage public-private resources to deliver cost-effective services and improve our environment and quality of life locally. —Chip Thompson, Mayor, City of Winder