Landfill Gas-to-Electric Power Plant
22596 Hwy 169
Elk River, MN

Star Tribune - July 16, 2007 article about the Elk River Landfill

A joint venture between the Elk River Landfill Waste Management and the Elk River Municipal Utilities has resulted in a landfill gas-to-electric power plant, which currently supplies the energy needs for about 2,400 homes in the City of Elk River. The plant is a result of several years of planning, kick-started by Sherburne County staff as a means to utilize methane as a renewable resource.

Methane is a by-product of decay, which begins accumulating in large amounts after a couple of years. Once a landfill cell is capped, the gas needs to be flared off (openly burned) or it can be collected, pressurized, filtered, and burned for energy.

The 5,100 square foot, state-of-the-art power plant contains four 800-kilowatt Caterpillar engine-generators with the ability to generate approximately 26.7 million kilowatt-hours per year.

Gases are collected from more than thirty wells placed in cells that have final cover. This gas is a mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, and other contaminants. It needs to be compressed (to remove moisture), filtered, and separated before it is sent to the generators as fuel. At present production levels, the existing, capped, landfill cells will last an estimated 35 years. As other cells are filled and capped, they will be able to be added to the network.

Elk River Municipal Utilities manages the product (electricity) while Waste Management controls the operation and maintenance of the facility.

The facility includes a 720 square foot Environmental Learning Center.