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Ada County, Idaho garbage may soon be source of power

All that garbage you’ve been sending to the landfill could soon help light your house or office.

It may sound strange, but trash at the landfill is actually creating a gas that can be converted into "green power," and Ada County wants to put that gas to good use.

How can garbage create electricity?

As trash in the landfill decomposes, it emits carbon dioxide and methane gases. The methane is similar to natural gas, and it can be collected and used to run generators that create electricity, said Selena O’Neal, an energy specialist for Ada County.

Last year, the county built a collection system at the landfill to gather the excess methane gas and burn it off. But the county also decided to see whether it could sell the the gas for generating power that could be sold to Idaho Power Co.

Melissa McGrath
The Idaho Statesman

Full Story: http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051123/NEWS010502/511230301

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