Can our trash work for us?
From Too Conservative, we hear that Delegate Joe May has submitted a bill that would allow localities to work with power companies to mine for methane in our landfills. From Delegate May:
This bill originated because of my participation in the Climate Change Commission. Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas and landfills are a large untapped energy source. By making methane mining eligible for public-private partnership methane can be used to produce electricity for local communities. In Maryland several companies have entered into contracts with Baltimore Gas and Electric to supply electricity from methane mined from large landfills. These companies mine methane gas from local landfills, burn it and use the energy produced to supply electricity to local communities. This bill will reduce greenhouse gas, produces energy and has the potential to save the Commonwealth millions of dollars. A win-win for everybody
I don’t agree with some of May’s votes, particularly his actions in 2004. However, he is a very affable guy, and probably one of the brightest in the statehouse, holding more patents than Thomas Jefferson himself. His failed 2005 LG bid was a real shame, but he’s really proving his worth in the house these days.
On the actual policy, what a great idea. Not only would localities benefit from the sale of the gas, helping to offset the amount of aid needed from the state, but it would also cut down on emissions from the landfill and remove a public hazard (no kidding, they actually have to have pipes all around our county landfill to vent the gas in order to avoid explosions).
