Mar 26 2015
Aria Energy, a leading provider of baseload renewable energy, today announced that the company's Seneca Energy II renewable natural gas (RNG) facility has received the Large Scale Direct-Use Project of the Year Award from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP).
The EPA's LMOP helps to reduce methane emissions from landfills by encouraging the recovery and beneficial use of landfill gas (LFG) as an energy resource. LFG contains methane, a potent greenhouse gas that can be captured and used to fuel power plants, manufacturing facilities, vehicles, homes, and more.
Located at the Seneca Meadows Landfill in Seneca Falls, NY and commissioned in March 2014, Aria Energy built Seneca Energy II adjacent to the existing 17.6 megawatt (MW) landfill gas-to-electric power generation facility, which has been operational since 1996. Both plants were built and are owned and operated by Aria Energy. Seneca Energy II processes approximately 3,000 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) of LFG, enough to power 8.4 MWs of electric generation capacity or produce 25,000 gallons of CNG vehicle fuel per day, and is expandable to 6,000 scfm as landfill gas production increases. The RNG produced at the facility is being used for power and fuel production in California, and electricity for the local New York market.
"We are honored to receive this recognition from the EPA and would like to thank Seneca Meadows for their collaboration on this project," said Richard M. DiGia, President and CEO of Aria Energy. "Seneca Energy II is another positive step for the use of domestic renewable energy to drive cost-effective and cleaner energy production by enabling the conversion of LFG into power generation and transportation fuel."
"Businesses like Seneca Energy benefit all of us: they keep our energy and fuel production here in the U.S., provide good paying jobs, protect and preserve our natural resources, and reduce our nation's reliance on foreign oil," said Kyle Black, Area Manager for Seneca Meadows. "Partnering with environmentally responsible businesses that stimulate our local economy is just one more way that Seneca Meadows is working to be a valued partner and trusted neighbor to our community."
Based on the EPA LMOP 2014 LFG Benefits Calculator, this project:
- Directly reduces 16,500 tons of methane/year
- Avoids the equivalent of 41,000 tons of CO2/year
- Equates to the CO2 emissions from 46,750,000 gallons of gasoline consumed
- Produces the energy equivalent of heating 10,000 homes
About Aria Energy
Headquartered in Novi, MI, Aria Energy provides baseload renewable energy to utilities and other customers across the United States. Aria Energy owns and/or operates a diversified portfolio of renewable energy projects across 16 states, collectively representing 265.9 MW-equivalent of baseload renewable energy capacity. For additional information, please visit: www.ariaenergy.com
The majority of Aria Energy is owned by power and energy private equity funds managed by Ares EIF Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Ares Management, L.P. (NYSE:ARES). For additional information, please visit: http://www.aresmgmt.com/
About Seneca Meadows, Inc.
Seneca Meadows, Inc. is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the environment. Since its inception in 1983, they have earned the support of national environmental organizations for their exemplary compliance record and numerous environmental initiatives.
Centrally located in Seneca Falls, New York, Seneca Meadows is the primary disposal facility for businesses and communities throughout the State. In environmental controls, mitigation, and their every day operations, Seneca Meadows exceeds regulatory requirements, providing the highest quality service for their customers and their community.
This commitment to excellence has earned Seneca Meadows the support of prestigious environmental organizations, such as: the National Audubon Society, Ducks Unlimited, and Trout Unlimited. Their efforts have also secured such honors as the 2003 Seneca County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award, the 2009 Rochester Business Journal's Environmental Leadership Award and the 2012 SWANA Excellence Award for landfill management.