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St. Louis Business & Technology News
"When you think Saint Louis, think Saint Louis Front Page," a weekly publication covering the news and events in the greater St. Louis area. 
How To Reach Us:St. Louis Front Page P.O. Box 1354 St. Louis, MO 63188 Voice: 314-771-0200 Fax: 314-771-0300 To submit news, contact: editor@slfp.com To advertise, contact: advertising@slfp.com |
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by Bob Moore, SLFP.com ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), September 13, 2009 - AmerenUE has announced an agreement with Fred Weber, Inc. that includes plans to install combustion turbines capable of generating about 15 megawatts (MW) of electricity by burning methane gas at Fred Weber's solid waste landfill in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Expected to be operational in 2011 at a cost of over $35 million, the "Methane to Megawatts" project will be the largest landfill gas-electric plant in Missouri and among the largest landfill generation plants in the country in terms of generating capacity, producing enough electricity to meet the demands of about 10,000 homes. Under the terms of the agreement, UE will purchase the methane from Fred Weber. Methane and other gases are the natural byproducts of the decomposition of waste in the landfill. "Methane gas is something we've been generating and producing for many years as this plant was started back in 1974," stated Tom Dunne, Jr., Fred Weber President & Chief Operating Officer, Waste Management Services. "This site is a series of wells and pipes and blowers that takes the gas through a vacuum and brings it over here to our central large blower system. That gas is constantly tested in terms of quantity and quality. From there, this is where AmerenUE will pick it up and supply it to their turbines which will go right back into the grid," explained Dunne. In a statement, UE President and Chief Executive Officer Warner Baxter, said, "We are excited to launch this important renewable energy initiative. It will offer meaningful benefits to our customers, the local community and the State of Missouri. Methane to Megawatts is consistent with our commitment to generate cleaner, reliable energy while meeting our customers' expectations for renewable power at a reasonable cost." Currently, the blower delivers landfill gas for use at Fred Weber's on-site asphalt plant and to nearby Pattonville High School and Jaeger Greenhouses, where it is used to generate heat. Delivery of gas to the high school and greenhouse facilities will not be affected by UE's use of methane, much of which is currently burned off ("flared") when not needed.
Governor Jay Nixon commended the historic partnership. "To keep Missouri's economic engine moving forward to compete and win in this new economy, we must encourage and embrace emerging science and technology from battery-powered and electric vehicles to groundbreaking research in plant and animals sciences to breakthroughs in medicine." "That growth is going to require cooperation, collaboration and something these two companies know a lot about - a healthy spirit of competition," stated the governor. "Neither of these companies has ever back away from trying to do things better, smarter or more effectively," the governor continued. "This project of creating a clean source of energy from a naturally occuring byproduct of our landfills, and quite frankly a byproduct of our lifestyles, is a great example of what we can do right here in our home state without waiting around for someone else to do it for us." St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley stated his main goal was keeping jobs in St. Louis County. Even more important was creating more opportunities for the people of St. Louis County. "When you think about this generation, you think about the environment. To me environment means one thing. How can I make that into jobs and opportunity for St. Louis County. That's called economic development. What we are doing here today is paramont. Turning something that has not been a useable product into something that makes sense - clean energy. And I think it's a game changer because we are thinking outside the box. We are doing things different. We are daring to take a risk to see our future very bright," stated Dooley.
 
The Saint Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2009 Moore Design Group. |
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