General Motors has begun a project that will effectively turn the stench of their garbage into electricity to satisfy much of their factories thirst for power by May 2014. If that isn't recycling, I don't know what is.
The $24 million dollar investment will put powerhouses at GM factories in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Orion, Michigan that harness the mix of methane, carbon dioxide, and other elements emitted by micro-organisms in their landfills known as "landfill gas."
GM has been drawing power from these gasses since 1999, but only to power small elements of their assembly process. When the new project is completed, 40% of the energy needs at Fort Wayne and 54% at Orion will be met by landfill gas.
GM reports that "more than 14 megawatts" of power will be yielded, and that their development of landfill gas as a power source will save 89,000 tons of CO2 emissions— the annual equivalent of 18,542 cars on the road.
GM global manager of renewable energy Rob Threlkeld asserts that the company has "made a public commitment to increase our use of renewable energy within GM to 125 megawatts by 2020."
Good job, guys.
Image: General Motors
GM Will Harness The Stench Of Its Nasty Garbage To Power Factories