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Landfill gas control systems became necessary as a routine operational <br />practice in order to abate landfill gas migration. Wells are drilled <br />into the refuse and the gas is drawn off and either vented or flamed <br />into the atmosphere. <br /> <br />LANDFILL GAS UTILIZATION <br /> <br />As was previously presented, landfill gas utilization technology began <br />in the Los Angeles, California area as a direct result of attempting to <br />abate landfill gas migration. Currently, there are approximately 23 <br />landfill gas utilization projects in the Country which are either operational <br />or in the planning stage. The majority of the operating landfill gas <br />projects are found in the Southern California (Los Angeles) area. A <br />listing of the current projects can be found in Attachment A. <br /> <br />Raw landfill gas will vary in composition from individual landfills <br />depending on the type of waste and the rate of anaerobic decomposition. <br />Generally, however, raw landfill gas is approximately one half the BTU <br />value of natural gas found in the pipeline for commercial and residential <br />gas use. In order to utilize raw landfill gas, it must be cleaned of <br />decontaminates to varing levels depending upon the designated use. For <br />example, if the market designated for landfill gas is that of a natural <br />gas pipeline, then the gas must be processed removing virtually all of <br />the water and carbon dioxide, bringing it to the same approximate BTU <br />value as the natural gas prior to being sold to a gas utility. On the <br />other hand, raw landfill gas with only a minimal amount of water and <br />carbon dioxide removed can be used as an alternative fuel for combustion <br />engines with minor modifications made to the carburation system. The <br />economics of landfill gas recovery are directly related to the level of <br />"scrubbing" or cleanup necessary for the designated market for the gas. <br /> <br />A simplified list of general uses for landfill gas as an energy source <br />are as follows: <br /> <br />1. On-site electrical generation. <br />2. Industrial boiler fuel. <br />3. Municipal steam and/or power plant fuel. <br />4. Supplemental fuel to natural, gas distribution system. <br />5. Supplemental fuel for automobile and/or truck fleet. <br /> <br />The specific practical applications of landfill gas utilization are only <br />limited by the imagination of those involved in developing the system <br />and the proximity of potential markets. It is important to re-emphasize <br />that the economics of landfill gas recovery and utilization are extremely <br />site specific and relate directly to the level and quantity of production <br />of gas from an individual landfill and the availability of demand for <br />gas as a supplemental energy source. <br /> <br />-3- <br /> <br /> <br />