By KRISTYN ECOCHARD Staff Writer
Published: The Star Democrat - Sunday, November 22, 2009

EASTON:  One man's trash is another man's treasure, or, in this case, an energy source.

Elected and government officials from the Mid-Shore celebrated the start of operations at the new Midshore I Landfill methane central flare station Friday with a ribbon cutting and lunch.

Phase one of the project contracted by Maryland Environmental Service is complete. The gas flare, installed by Blue Source LLC, burns methane released by decomposing waste, making emissions less potent. In the next few months, Blue Source will begin work on the second phase of the project which will allow the gas to be collected, cleaned and put into a generator to produce electricity, said Jim Harkins, Maryland Environmental Service director.

"It's good for the environment: We
estimate that the Midshore I project
could reduce as much as 70,000
tons of carbon dioxide during peak
gas collection. And it's good for the
bottom line," Harkins said. "We're
very excited about this project at
MES. It represents the future of our
business improving our environmental
operations with new technology, and partnering with the private sector to promote clean renewable energy."

The $1 million project did not cost
Mid-Shore residents anything and
Blue Source will share its income
with the Mid-Shore counties after it
recovers its initial expenses, Harkins
said.

Blue Source plans to sell Verified
Emission Reductions into the voluntary carbon trade market and will eventually decide who to sell the electricity to, but it would most likely sell to service providers in the area.

The contract is for 10 years with two five-year extensions contingent upon gas availability. Landfill gases increase, peak, then eventually stop.

"Innovation is nothing new in the Mid-Shore," said Elizabeth Entwisle, administrator of the Maryland Department of Environment's Climate Change Division.

Trapping and converting greenhouse gases like methane will be a huge part of meeting the state's goal of reducing emissions by 25 percent by 2020, she said. A plan to meet that goal will be laid out in 2010, she said, and partnerships between the state, counties and towns will be important, as well as public-private partnerships.

Greenhouse gas offset credits, either voluntary or regulated, will also likely play a role in meeting the state's ambitious goal, Entwisle said.

"This is very exciting," said Del. Adelaide Eckardt, R-37B-Dorchester. "Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, more potent than carbon dioxide and landfills are the leading source of methane emissions."

Eckardt also pointed out that Maryland is exceptionally vulnerable to rising sea levels, to which emissions have been linked.

"When the project moves to Phase Two it will generate energy, reduce greenhouse gases and create offset credits. It's a big step in the right direction," she said.

Caroline, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties entered into an agreement with MES in 1986 to develop a landfill and in 1992 Kent County joined that agreement. Each county agreed to host a landfill for 20 years, and Mid-Shore I in Easton is scheduled to close in 2010, with Mid-Shore II opening in Caroline County near Ridgely.