Waste Connections expands renewable-energy operations

Waste Connections expands renewable-energy operations
Sacramento Business Journal - by Melanie Turner Staff writer
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Waste Connections Inc. has entered into an agreement to expand its gas-to-energy operations at the Potrero Hills Landfill in Suisun City, the company announced Tuesday.

Under a 25-year agreement with DTE Biomass Energy of Ann Arbor, Mich., a subsidiary of DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE), Waste Connections will convert landfill gas into renewable electric power, enough to power about 7,000 homes.

“We currently have 17 renewable energy projects either operating or in development that are expected to produce almost 40 megawatts of power and 10,000 cubic feet per minute of pipeline quality gas,” said Jim Little, Waste Connections’ senior vice president, engineering and disposal. “We also have more than 15 additional landfills that either qualify, or could qualify, for carbon emission credits and potentially be developed into future renewable energy projects.”

Waste Connections (NYSE: WCN) of Folsom last spring agreed to buy the Potrero Hills Landfill from Republic Services Inc. (NYSE: RSG). The companies did not disclose terms of the deal, which closed in April.

Waste Connections serves about 2 million customers and has operations in 26 states.