NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Drake N. Rice, OMPA Director of Member Services, 405/359-2500
Dedication Ceremony Held For OMPA’s Landfill-Gas-To-Energy Project
On April 17th, Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA) General Manager Cindy L. Holman, Board Chair Charles Lamb, Director of Member Services Drake N. Rice, and Board Member John Ramey joined representatives from Tulsa LFG, LLC and Montauk Energy in the dedication of OMPA’s landfill-gas-to-energy project in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. The project is the first landfill-gas-to-energy project to begin commercial operations in Oklahoma.
The OMPA Board of Directors previously approved a long-term purchase power contract with Tulsa LFG, LLC for a landfill-gas-to-energy project, which was signed on June 22, 2012. The notice to proceed for construction was given on October 12, 2012. The project was funded by the project developer, Montauk Energy. The project was completed and became operational on February 27, 2013.
“The LFG project provides our 39 member cities with another renewable resource of energy. OMPA was the first Oklahoma utility to have wind power, another renewable resource in September 2003. This project brings OMPA’s renewable energy resources (methane gas, wind and hydro) for 2013 to an estimated level of nearly 30 percent based on a normal water year,” said Charles Lamb, Board Chair.
“The Authority will continue to develop projects to meet the load growth needs of our members by providing them with cost efficient and reliable electricity while exploring the advantages of renewable resources. I appreciate the cooperation we have received from Tulsa LFG, LLC and Montauk Energy in making this unique project a reality,” said Cindy L. Holman, General Manager.
The $4 million municipal solid waste landfill project is small, but has the potential to grow. Initially, the project will produce three-megawatts, but may grow to seven-plus megawatts in the future.
Traditionally, landfill gas escapes into the atmosphere and is considered a potent greenhouse gas. Landfill gas is comprised of approximately 50 percent methane. The gas is generated through the slow decomposition of waste and contributes greatly to greenhouse gas emissions and local smog. Usually, landfills flare, or burn off the methane gas as a means of controlling its release.
Landfill-gas-to-energy projects capture this gas for electricity and heat, turning a harmful source of waste into a beneficial source of renewable energy. Since a landfill has continuous inflows of waste, this produces additional methane for future generation. Landfill gas is also the only type of renewable energy that directly reduces pollution to the atmosphere.
These renewable energy projects safely divert landfill gas through extraction wells and pipe it to a landfill-gas-to-energy plant, where it is cleaned before specialized engines convert it to electricity. Landfill-gas-to-energy projects generate electricity more than 90 percent of the time, 24 hours a day, and seven days a week.
In addition to serving on the OMPA Board, Lamb is the Mayor of Edmond and Ramey is Okeene’s Town Administrator.
The Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority (OMPA) is a wholesale power company owned by 39 municipal electric utilities. OMPA provides economies of scale in power generation and related services to support community-owned electric utilities. The members of OMPA serve approximately 250,000 Oklahomans.
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