Duke Energy to turn Durham landfill gas into power
Duke said it had signed a contract with Methane Power, a renewable energy developer, to purchase two megawatts of power that will be produced by methane that is created by the landfill.
Financial terms were not disclosed. The agreement covers 20 years.
However, Duke Energy estimated the cost of the power would be “less than 10 cents a year” for residential customers.
Duke Energy has more than 2.3 million customers.
The gas is currently burned off at the landfill, which has been closed for several years.
According to Duke Energy, the gas will produce enough power for 1,600 residential customers. Duke expects to begin producing power as of May 1, 2009.
The agreement is one of several Duke Energy has signed in recent months to acquire energy from renewable resources, including three solar projects. Duke Energy also is investing in wind power projects.
Related News

Huge offshore wind turbine that can power 18,000 homes
BERLIN - Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has released details of a 14-megawatt (MW) offshore wind turbine, in the latest example of how technology in the sector is increasing in scale.
With 108-meter-long blades and a rotor diameter of 222 meters, the dimensions of the SG 14-222 DD turbine are significant.
In a statement Tuesday, SGRE said that one turbine would be able to power roughly 18,000 average European households annually, while its capacity can also be boosted to 15 MW if needed. A prototype of the turbine is set to be ready by 2021, and it’s expected to be commercially available…