Methane mining project at landfill is 'win-win' for David City
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BY ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star
State and local officials will dedicate a methane-mining project at the Butler County Landfill near David City on Friday.
The project, built by Timberline Energy of Denver, collects methane gas — produced from decomposing garbage — and sends it through a buried pipeline to Henningsen Foods, an egg-processing plant in David City.
The company burns the gas in its dryers and a large boiler.
What? Methane gas is being mined at the Butler County Landfill near David City.
Who? Timberline Energy, based in Denver, built the plant in cooperation with Butler County Landfill and its parent company, Waste Connection Inc., Henningsen Foods and the city of David City.
When? Ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday at the landfill.
Why? Butler County Landfill was built in 1992-93 and methane gas has accumulated over the years -- so much so the landfill was about two years from meeting stricter regulatory thresholds set by federal and state agencies. An odorless gas, methane can move through the soil and seep into buildings and homes and possibly explode under the right conditions. It’s also a potent greenhouse gas.
How is it mined? Methane is extracted using 16 wells sunk into the landfill. It is then pumped, compressed and transported via a 6-inch pipeline to Henningsen Foods, about five miles away. The pipeline is buried in existing right-of-way along county roads.
Will there be more plants like this? Jay Hopper with Timberline Energy said the company is negotiating with another party in Nebraska but declined further comment.
How many methane mining operations are in the state? The Butler County Landfill methane-mining operation joins a methane power plant operated by the Omaha Public Power District at the Douglas County landfill near Elk City. Siouxland Ethanol near Jackson uses methane gas piped from a nearby landfill. And the Nebraska Public Power District has a pilot program to work with farmers to collect methane gas from hog waste and use it to generate electricity.
“We can use more gas than they are producing,” said Darrel Kahler, assistant manager for Henningsen, a subsidiary of Q.P. Corp., of Tokyo.
Methane is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas blamed for global warming, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Landfills account for 25 percent of all methane releases linked to human activity.
“Given that all landfills generate gas, it makes sense to use this gas for the beneficial purpose of energy generation rather than emitting it into the atmosphere,” said Jay Hopper with Timberline Energy.
Here’s how the project works:
Timberline sunk 16 wells, 30 feet to 90 feet deep, into the oldest part of the landfill. The methane is collected, compressed and sent via pipeline to Henningsen Foods.
Henningsen Foods buys eggs from producers and processes them into products for domestic and export markets. The company employs more than 130 people.
“We are growing green, adding green and living green in Butler County,” said Willow Holoubek, executive director of Butler County Development.
Four partners — Henningsen Foods, Timberline Energy, Butler County Landfill and its parent company Waste Connection, and the city of David City — came together to make the project a win-win situation for the community, said Holoubek.
The operation not only helps the environment but also supports area agriculture — from farmers who grow the soybeans and corn for chicken feed to the producers who operate the egg-laying farms.
Kelly Danielson, assistant district manager of the 64-acre landfill, said the project operates about 10 to 12 hours a day. The landfill gets a small royalty from the operation, he said, but the main benefit is it doesn’t have to build a collection system to get rid of the landfill gas.
Danielson said the methane-mining operation could be used to provide fuel for other entities in the David City area as more wells are added to the landfill.
Hopper estimates the project could be in operation for 40 years.
Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at (402) 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.
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gas man wrote on November 18, 2008 9:09 am:
hey gas man wrote on November 18, 2008 6:25 pm:
To Recycler wrote on November 25, 2008 12:40 pm:
Yes it may costs for each of us individually to have recycling service, but remember you also pay to have your trash picked up and buried in a whole where the city makes money. And where does that tipping fee go? Thats right to fund recycling. So if we stop putting trash in the landfill, where does the money come from for those drop offs or government funded recycling programs? Thats right from your tax dollars. Also may i ask, people pay to have their trash bury and thats ok. But if you were to pay for someone to create value from the waste and make a profit thats not. People who think it is a bad thing that these differnt recycling companies make money from recycling are only mad because they didn't think of it first. You probably don't recall but it wasn't that long ago someone came up with the idea of having trash collection. Alot of people fought that too. Looking back, it wasn't a bad idea after all was it? "
RecycleLink wrote on November 26, 2008 9:21 pm:
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