Overview
Blackburn Landfill Co-Generation is a 2.9 MW biomass power plant in Catawba County, North Carolina, USA. It converts landfill gas into electricity, supporting local renewable energy generation.
Blackburn Landfill Co-Generation is a biomass power plant located in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States. With a capacity of 2.9 MW, it is a small-scale facility that utilizes landfill gas as its primary fuel source. The plant is owned by Catawba County and is currently operational, contributing to the region's renewable energy portfolio. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including the Clean Air Act (CAA) and its New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for landfill gas. As a landfill gas-to-energy facility, it helps reduce methane emissions from the Blackburn Landfill while generating electricity. The technology typically involves internal combustion engines or gas turbines to convert the captured gas into power. Environmentally, the plant provides dual benefits: generating renewable energy and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from landfill gas. Its small capacity means it serves a local grid role, likely powering nearby facilities or feeding into the local distribution network. The facility represents a community-driven approach to waste-to-energy, aligning with broader sustainability goals in North Carolina.
Environmental context
The plant's use of landfill gas as fuel reduces methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, while generating electricity. Its small capacity (2.9 MW) limits its overall environmental footprint, but it contributes to local renewable energy targets. Proximity to the landfill ensures efficient gas capture, minimizing fugitive emissions. The facility operates under EPA regulations for landfill gas, including emissions limits for non-methane organic compounds.
Frequently asked questions
Blackburn Landfill Co-Generation is located in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States, at coordinates 35.6067, -81.3006.
It is a biomass power plant that uses landfill gas as fuel to generate electricity, with a capacity of 2.9 MW.
The plant is owned by Catawba County, a local government entity in North Carolina.
Landfill gas power plants in the US must comply with the Clean Air Act, including New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for landfill gas, which regulate emissions of non-methane organic compounds and require gas collection and control systems.
The plant reduces methane emissions from the landfill by capturing and combusting landfill gas to generate electricity, providing a renewable energy source and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.