Santee Cooper Produces More than 250,000 Megawatt-Hours with Landfill Methane Gas Generating Facilities
July 8, 2008
Santee Cooper is the only utility in South Carolina to generate electricity via landfill methane, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions; three current facilities produce more than 14 MW of clean, renewable energy
MONCKS CORNER, SC – July 8, 2008 – Santee Cooper has reached a key milestone in energy produced with landfill methane gas—more than 250,000 megawatt-hours have been produced through this renewable energy process. Santee Cooper is the only provider in the state producing electricity through landfill gas-generating facilities.
“Producing energy through landfill methane is important to our overall Santee Cooper Green plan to use renewable resources for as much of our total capacity as is technically and viably possible,” said Marc Tye, vice president of conservation and renewable energy.
Landfill methane gas-generation is part of Santee Cooper Green, the utility’s initiative to go green and help its customers go green, save energy and save money. Last fall, Santee Cooper announced an aggressive goal to generate 40 percent of its energy – four times current levels – from non-greenhouse gas emitting resources, biomass fuels, energy efficiency and conservation by 2020.
The first Green Power generating facility was built in Horry County in 2001. Santee Cooper now operates three landfill gas-generating facilities throughout South Carolina-Horry, Lee and Richland counties and will soon start-up a fourth facility in Anderson county. A fifth location has been announced in Georgetown County.
As trash in landfills decomposes, it produces methane gas, which can be converted into energy through a process that also reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Plans are ongoing to bring additional facilities online with up to 45 MWs of generation projected in the future.
“Although landfill methane gas cannot generate enough power to meet our growing electricity needs in South Carolina, it can contribute a portion,” added Tye. “Santee Cooper continues to pursue a wide range of conservation and renewable methods, as part of our commitment to maximize the amount of energy produced through these alternatives.”
For more information, visit www.SanteeCooperGreen.com for up-to-date information on all of the company’s programs, including hydroelectric, landfill gas, solar and wind energy; recycling programs such as ash utilization and oil recovery; and teaching green initiatives through the Energy Educators Institute, Green Power Solar Schools and more.
About Santee Cooper
Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility and the state’s largest power producer, supplying electricity to more than 162,000 retail customers in Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry counties, as well as to 29 large industrial facilities, the cities of Bamberg and Georgetown, and the Charleston Air Force Base. Santee Cooper also generates the power distributed by the state’s 20 electric cooperatives to more than 685,000 customers in all 46 counties. Approximately 2 million South Carolinians receive their power directly or indirectly from Santee Cooper. The utility also provides water to 137,000 consumers in Berkeley and Dorchester counties, and the town of Santee.
For more information, visit www.SanteeCooper.com.
