GLASGOW, Ky. — Farmers RECC and East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) today joined the City of Glasgow to celebrate the successful launch of the cooperative’s landfill-gas-to-electric (LFGTE) power plant.
The plant, located at the city’s Glasgow Regional Landfill, is fueled by methane gas from the landfill. Completed earlier this year, the plant can generate up to 1 megawatt of electricity, and Farmers RECC distributes the power to its members.
“This project is a shining example of how our organizations can work together to innovatively address our needs and benefit the entire community,” said Bill Prather, president and CEO of Farmers RECC. “We are proud to generate renewable energy for Farmers RECC members.”
Representatives from EKPC, Farmers RECC and the City of Glasgow gathered at the plant today for a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony. They were joined by Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely, along with other dignitaries from the local community and state and federal government.
The project began as a result of extensive discussions between Farmers RECC and the City of Glasgow. Farmers RECC was interested in the production of energy from renewable sources and the city of Glasgow was interested in capturing the landfill’s methane gas.
EKPC, which is owned by Farmers RECC and 15 other electric cooperatives around the state, has years of experience in operating LFGTE plants at landfills around Kentucky. The plants are fueled by methane, a flammable gas produced as organic waste decays within landfills. Methane gas often is flared off as a waste product.
As a result of the discussions, EKPC agreed to construct and operate the plant, and will purchase methane gas from the City of Glasgow. The gas is piped to the plant, where it fuels the generator. Farmers RECC is purchasing all of the renewable energy produced by the facility to provide to its members. In addition, the plant serves as a source of backup electric power for the city’s nearby sewage treatment plant.
“EKPC is delighted to help Farmers RECC and the City of Glasgow put the landfill’s methane gas to work for the entire community as a fuel to generate electricity,” said Anthony “Tony” Campbell, EKPC’s president and CEO.
In May, Farmers RECC received the Silver Switch Award from the Rural Electricity Resource Council, which recognized the depth of cooperation required to complete the project, as well as the unique nature of the renewable electricity produced.
The Glasgow facility is EKPC’s sixth LFGTE plant. The others are located at landfills in Boone, Laurel, Greenup, Hardin and Pendleton counties. Together, the six plants have the capacity to generate up to 14.6 megawatts of electricity.
The Glasgow LFGTE plant is EKPC’s only facility that delivers its electric power to the local co-op.
Currently, the Glasgow LFGTE plant generates enough electricity to have any one of the following annual environmental impacts:
• Offset greenhouse gas emissions from more than 1 million miles driven by an average passenger vehicle; or
• Offset CO2 emissions from more than 50,000 gallons of gasoline consumed; or
• Offset CO2 emissions from more than 1,000 barrels of oil consumed.
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