Gas-To-Energy Program In White Marsh To Help County, Environment

WHITE MARSH, MD — A new public-private partnership in Baltimore County will help the environment and save money, according to officials. The initiative will generate renewable energy through methane gas produced at Eastern Sanitary Landfill in White Marsh.

Energy Power Partners bought a gas-to-energy facility at the landfill in 2019 and repurposed its engines to more efficiently generate energy, according to a statement from county officials.

Baltimore County signed an agreement in June with the company to purchase power produced by the facility's two methane capture generators to supply the local utility grid, officials said.

The gas-to-energy facility will power the equivalent of 1,600 homes and prevent about 10,400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, according to authorities, who compared that to planting 12,300 acres of forest, removing 2,000 cars from the road or reducing gasoline consumption by 1 million gallons.

Methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Landfills are the third largest source of methane, after fossil fuel production and livestock.

“Climate change poses one of the most significant threats to our state’s long-term health and prosperity. This new project will reduce Baltimore County’s carbon footprint and help meet critical renewable energy goals,” Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said in a statement. “Baltimore County can and should be a leader in environmental sustainability and my administration will continue to innovate as we work to protect our shared environment for this generation — and the next.”

Baltimore County is expected to offset 11 percent of its energy consumption through the gas-to-energy facility, according to a statement from the county, which said the power will be directed to county-owned facilities.

Officials also expect to save $285,000 in fiscal year 2021 as a result of the initiative.

Currently the gas-to-energy program is in its first phase, projected to generate 13 million kWh a year, but by the end of 2020 it will enter a second phase with the addition of a third engine, increasing energy production to 20 million kWh a year, county officials reported.