GE helps Delaware go green

GE is helping Delaware meet its requirement for generating power from renewable sources by financing construction and supplying equipment for two landfill gas projects.

GE Energy Financial Services will provide a $7.25m loan for two Delaware landfill gas-to-energy generation projects located at the Central Facility, a 770-acre landfill in Sandtown, and the Southern Facility, a 570-acre landfill in Georgetown. Construction of the generation projects is scheduled for completion during the fourth quarter of 2006.

GE Energy will provide seven Jenbacher J320 GS gas engines configured as generator sets to both Delaware sites to produce 7.4 megawatts of electricity.

The owner of the landfill gas-to-energy projects, Ameresco, developed, designed, is constructing, and will operate the projects. Ameresco operates 10 such plants in North America and has 109 MW (equivalent) of similar renewable energy projects in operation or under development.

Decomposing rubbish in landfills produces methane, which is collected and compressed to fuel electric generators. Such projects reduce carbon dioxide emissions in two ways: reducing the use of natural gas as a power source and eliminating the need to flare methane gas at landfills. The Delaware projects will save approximately 40,000 tons a year in greenhouse gas emissions.