2006

COLONIE TURNING WASTE INTO ENERGY

June 2006

Supervisor Mary E. Brizzell held a press conference announcing that the Town of Colonie's new methane gas to electric plant is now up and running. The plant will help preserve the environment and save tax dollars for the residents of Colonie. The Town of Colonie has joined with Innovative Energy Systems to begin developing landfill gas to electricity.

"I am proud to stand here today with the President of Innovative Energy Systems, Peter Zeliff, and with the President and CEO of The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority ( NYSERDA), Peter Smith to announce that the Town of Colonie's methane gas to electric plant is in full operation," Brizzell stated.

According to Brizzell, the Town estimates revenues between $250,000 and $350,000 for the general fund, and increases compliance with clean air requirements. Operation of the new methane gas to electric facility will provide environmentally sound, long term management of the landfill gas generated at the Town Landfill and provides the Town of Colonie and IES with a consistent annual revenue stream from the selling of "green" electricity, the Renewable Energy Credits and tax credits.

"Electricity is being sold on the day ahead of electric market prices, with the revenue shared by the Town of Colonie and Innovative Energy Systems," Brizzell said. "This is a win-win situation for the people of the Town of Colonie."

With the methane gas that is currently being collected by the new methane gas to electric facility, the Town of Colonie in comparison will be eliminating the need for 46,250 barrels of oil per year, eliminate the equivalent of 31,118 automobile emissions per year, could essentially power 2,353 homes.

Peter R. Smith, President and CEO of NYSERDA said, "NYSERDA's award of a $500,000 incentive to the Town of Colonie for this landfill gas-to-electricity project is a testament to its technical merit. The project delivers benefits on many levels: a revenue source from the sale of electric power generated from the methane, carbon dioxide, and trace gases produced at the landfill; a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and odors associated with the landfill process; as well as a reduction in the consumption of oil at the facility."

"When we first began looking into the possibility of using the landfill gas for some beneficial use in 1986, we thought the concept had merit and was a true win-win situation," said Brizzell. "Over the past 20 years the Town has maintained its steadfast support in the development of a project that would fulfill our expectation that landfill gas could be used beneficially and that's what's happening today. To quote Peter Smith, "Good ideas outlive adversity."

Currently, the Town of Colonie manages the disposal of approximately 170,000 tons of waste per year in the landfill, and roughly 32,000 cubic yards of yard wastes are composted at the Waste Composting Facility.

"All along our goal has been to protect the environment and the taxpayers of Colonie," Brizzell stated. Colonie is the only community in the Capital Region which has a long term solid waste disposal capacity."