Ameresco Completes Fourth Renewable EPC Project with Hoosier Energy

Orchard Hills Landfill Gas-to-Energy powers 16 MW near Rockford, Illinois, using landfill gas biogas with GE Jenbacher engines; Ameresco and Hoosier Energy deliver renewable electricity, EPC expertise, and greenhouse gas reduction.

A leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, today announced the completion of the 16 megawatt (MW) landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) project at the Orchard Hills Generating Station located just south of Rockford, Illinois, supporting regional grid reliability alongside the Transource transmission project in Missouri. Contracted in July 2014, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contract (EPC) for the LFGTE facility included comprehensive design, engineer-procure, permit, and construction services. With the project reaching operation, Ameresco will now operate and maintain the facility for Hoosier Energy. This is the fourth biogas-fueled project Ameresco operates for Hoosier Energy.

“The Orchard Hills generating station plays an important role in Hoosier Energy’s renewables program,” said Rob Horton, Vice President, Power Production, Hoosier Energy. “We are proud of our partnership with Ameresco and look forward to producing a significant amount of renewable energy at the landfill for years to come.”

The new multi-million facility turns landfill gas into electricity, and in the process, removes a potent greenhouse gas, complementing waste-derived pathways such as food waste to green hydrogen. The facility is powered by six 620 GE Jenbacher engines and is capable of producing enough electricity to power more than 8,000 homes that use 1,200 kwh of electricity per month, amid broader capacity additions like a 955-MW gas plant in Ohio.

The LFGTE plant safely diverts landfill gas through extraction wells and pipes it to a landfill gas-to-energy plant, where it is cleaned before specialized engines convert it to electricity for use. It can also be paired with thermal energy storage to enhance flexibility. The LFGTE facilities also improve greenhouse gas compliance and provide revenue for landfill owners while providing end users with a renewable option for their energy. These efforts align with grid software initiatives like NYPA and GE Power software that aim to deliver cleaner, more reliable power.

“Ameresco is honored to have been entrusted by Hoosier Energy, once again, to build another best-in-class alternative-fueled renewable energy facility,” said Michael T. Bakas, Senior Vice President, Ameresco. “We are proud of the hard work and dedication of our employees, in close collaboration with Hoosier Energy, for their passion in ensuring the successful construction and commercial operations of this new 16 MW utility-grade facility, and we look forward to operating and maintaining this new asset to the benefit of Hoosier Energy and its members for the long term.”

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