Lincoln begins methane mining at landfill

Mayor Chris Beutler calls it the future of renewable energy.

The trash in Lincoln's landfill is getting a second chance, as energy that could power your home.

All of the trash in the Lincoln landfill is giving off methane gas, enough to power more than 2,000 homes.

Mayor Beutler says, “amidst the wildflowers and prairie grasses that are beginning to flourish atop the capped area of our landfill, the first of the 54 phase one methane gas wells is about to be drilled”

The drills will eventually capture methane gas to be used for energy, but there's no one to buy that energy yet.   Still, it's a $2.2 million investment Mayor Beutler is confident makes sense.  “By acting voluntarily to flare methane and other greenhouse gases through this project, Lincoln stands to gain revenue in two ways.”

Lincoln can sell the actual energy, but until there's a buyer, the city will burn, or 'flare' the gas. The city earns carbon credits for flaring which Public Works Director Greg MacLean estimates would bring in about $300,000 per year.  “Even if we collect it and flare it, we do still get carbon credits.  We do feel like there's a positive enough revenue stream to more than offset the initial cost.”

MacLean estimates it will take seven to eight years to pay off the infrastructure with profits from the credits.  Some of the energy generated may stay here in Lincoln.  “It's possible that the city may use it for it's own energy needs, or either public institutions such as the university”

Most of the funding for the project comes from fees collected by the landfill.