(Host) The Washington Electric Cooperative wants to expand their methane generating plant at the Coventry landfill.
The Co-op’s General Manager Avram Patt says the utility has filed a certificate of public good with the Vermont Public Service Board to expand the plant’s capacity to 8 megawatts.
The facility first went online in July 2005, and currently supplies electricity to 6,000 households and businesses. Patt says the co-op is planning the expansion to keep up with an increase in methane gas as the landfill expands:
(Patt) "We have always planned to track the increase in methane being produced by the landfill and to add additional generating equipment at the right time. And so this is the right time for our second expansion."
(Host) The plant burns the methane to generate electricity. It’s the largest of its type in Vermont.
Patt says the facility provides a stable, low-cost power source for the co-op:
(Patt) "We know very closely what our cost of power will be for the next 25 to 30 years from this plant. It’s currently at half of market prices so it’s been a good deal for the co-op and our members."
(Host) The Washington Electric Co-op will put the three-million-dollar expansion plan to a member vote if it receives public service board approval. If members support the plan, Patt says the expansion could be completed by January 2009.
AP Photo/Toby Talbot