Alliance Landfill to use trash for power

The Associated Press

HARRISBURG — A Northeastern Pennsylvania landfill will begin using the methane produced from rotting garbage to make electricity.

State environmental regulators said Thursday they have signed off on plans by Alliance Landfill to use the methane to power a generator.

The required the landfill to develop plans to use the methane when it issued a renewal permit in July.

Trash-disposal giant Waste Management Inc. owns Alliance.

Methane gas generated at the landfill in Taylor will be piped to a PEI Energy Corp. facility in Archbald Borough that can use the gas to make electricity.

UGI Corp. is building the pipeline. State officials say it will produce about 15 megawatts of electricity, or enough to power almost 12,000 homes.