Dive Summary
- A new landfill gas-to-energy system in Somerset County, Pennsylvania is now providing 100% of the power used at the State Correctional Institution - Laurel Highlands
- At full capacity, the facility will be able to produce 6 megawatts of power. The local prison only requires 1.8 megawatts to run the facility
- The surplus electricity is returned to the power grid and sold to First Energy
- Overall, the facility should save PA taxpayers more than $68 million in electricity costs over the next 15 years - more than enough to cover the costs of the project.
From the article:
A new heating plant at State Correctional Institution-Laurel Highlands is a winner at several levels, state Corrections Secretary John E. Wetzel said Tuesday at the Somerset County facility.
The new system also generates more than enough electricity to power the state prison using methane gas created by decomposing material at nearby Mostoller Landfill.
“This event epitomizes what good government can be,” Wetzel said during dedication ceremonies at the prison.
Wetzel credited the late Robert A. Calik with “thinking out of the box” to come up with the landfill gas solution to the prison’s energy and pollution issues. The system replaces a 63-year-old, coal-powered boiler system that was cited for emissions violations.
