The Chron reports that the power plant that will turn the methane produced by Ox Mountain is now operational. The power will be sold to Alameda and Palo Alto.
Julia Scott at the County Times had a longer and more detailed article on this back in January.
But it’s hard to miss the shiny new plant built at the top of the landfill. Starting this spring, the gas it collects will leave the landfill in the form of electricity — enough to power as many as 10,000 homes in Palo Alto and Alameda.
When it goes online in two or three months, the plant, recently completed by Ameresco Inc., will be able to capture and convert more methane than any other Bay Area landfill. Its six engines will operate 24 hours a day and generate up to 11.5 megawatts of electricity, more than twice that of most local landfills, which produce about 5 megawatts.
“It’s probably one of the largest landfill gas-to-energy projects that’s been developed in the past five years — certainly it’s the biggest project in California in the last five years,” said Linda Nugent, senior project developer for Ameresco, which won a contract from Republic Services Inc. in 2004 to develop the plant.
Methane-capture technology has evolved considerably since it first came into use in the early 1980s. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 445 such projects exist in the United States, with the potential for 535 more.
Consultants' plan for Hwy 1 lacks awareness of our environment and community, Mar 11 4:43pm, Carl May — People interested in the California state trail known as the California Coastal Trail, especially what kind of a trail (or trails) it might be, can get into it by Googling “California Coastal Trail SB 908 Chesbro.” Chesbro, out of Arcata, is an ...
Consultants' plan for Hwy 1 lacks awareness of our environment and community, Mar 11 4:06pm, Carl May — “Many of your neighbors don’t care. They want a bike and foot path, as it provides access to some coastal and community features in our area.” For those who don’t get out except to go from their car to their front door, and to those so ...
Consultants' plan for Hwy 1 lacks awareness of our environment and community, Mar 11 2:24pm, Kevin Barron — An overpass will NEVER happen here. It reeks of growth, development, and an iota of suburbanization. Many here want to hold tight to no-growth-weed-ridden-squalor. Allow no infrastructure improvements, so any attempts at “progress” is denied for ...
Photo: HMB HS students ask CUSD board to keep counselors, Mar 11 12:02pm, Kathryn Slater Carter — I heard the final student comments. The comments were excellent, the students were impressive. Alternate budget cuts were suggested. One student made a particularly critical point: Students must feel safe in school, from bullies and other ...
Pacifica examines widening part of Hwy 1 to six lanes, Mar 10 6:55pm, Barbara Kossy — I wonder how much of the traffic is due to parents taking kids to school, and picking them up from school. I notice when school is out, it’s a faster drive through Pacifica. Maybe it would be more effective to re-instate the use of school ...
CUSD to finalize cuts Weds, protests planned, Mar 10 4:50pm, Katharine Weber — Well, we all got notified that we are going to be officially laid off and the letter comes Friday. That’s all five Counselors in the district, including Ilene Bragman, who has served Cabrillo Unified since 1974. ...
Pacifica examines widening part of Hwy 1 to six lanes, Mar 10 11:59am, Kathryn Slater Carter — I think TA and Pacifica need to update their assumptions, traffic studies and proposed solutions. I-80, across the Sacramento River bypass between the bay area and Sacramento is 3 lanes in each direction. Unfortunately there was no staff ...