Overview
JBER Landfill Gas Power Plant is an 11.5 MW biomass facility in Alaska, USA, owned by Doyon Utilities LLC. It converts landfill gas into electricity, supporting local grid stability.
The JBER Landfill Gas Power Plant is a biomass power generation facility located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska, United States. With a capacity of 11.5 MW, it operates as a small-scale power plant within the broader US energy sector, utilizing landfill gas as its primary fuel source. The plant is owned by Doyon Utilities LLC and is currently in operational status. The plant employs landfill gas-to-energy technology, which captures methane from decomposing waste and combusts it to generate electricity. This process reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to flaring or venting methane. As a biomass facility, it falls under US EPA regulations, including the Clean Air Act's New Source Performance Standards for municipal solid waste landfills, which mandate gas collection and control systems. Environmentally, the plant provides a dual benefit: generating renewable energy while mitigating methane emissions from the landfill. Its location on a military base ensures a dedicated fuel supply and supports energy security for the installation. The 11.5 MW output is sufficient to power thousands of homes, contributing to Alaska's renewable energy mix and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Environmental context
The plant's use of landfill gas reduces methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, by converting it into electricity. Located in a subarctic climate, the facility supports local air quality improvements by displacing fossil fuel generation. The moderate capacity of 11.5 MW minimizes land use impacts, and the plant's integration with a landfill site avoids additional environmental disturbance.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska, United States.
The plant uses landfill gas, a renewable biomass fuel derived from decomposing organic waste.
The plant has a capacity of 11.5 megawatts (MW), enough to power approximately 3,000 homes.
Biomass power plants in the US must comply with the Clean Air Act, including New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.
The plant is owned by Doyon Utilities LLC, a company that provides utility services to military installations.