News Releases

PPL Renewable Energy and the Cumberland County Improvement Authority on Friday (11/14) dedicated a landfill gas energy system at the Cumberland County Landfill in Deerfield Township, N.J., that will produce enough clean energy to power 3,600 homes.

“Through this exciting project, we’re turning trash into a renewable energy source,” said Mike Kroboth, president for PPL Renewable Energy. “Landfill gas-to-energy systems benefit the environment by generating electricity from renewable fuel. They also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels, while burning methane gas, a potent contributor to global climate change.”

Methane gas from the landfill will power three generators and produce 4.8 megawatts of renewable power.

The plant will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, by 30,000 tons per year by avoiding the use of fossil fuels. That’s equal to removing 4,900 cars from the road or eliminating the use of 3 million gallons of gasoline.

“The Improvement Authority is dedicated to conserving natural resources and improving the quality of life for the residents and businesses of Cumberland County through a wide range of recycling and environmental programs,” said Steven Wymbs, executive director of the authority.

“This project, which benefits the environment and local residents by increasing the amount of renewable energy available in the region, is only the beginning,” he said. “We are currently pursuing plans to develop additional alternative energy solutions, as well as state-of-the-art technologies that will increase the life of the landfill by reclaiming space.”

PPL Renewable Energy already has developed renewable energy projects that total more than 30 megawatts of generation — enough to power 24,000 homes. These include solar panel installations and landfill gas projects in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

PPL Corporation, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., controls more than 11,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to about 4 million customers in Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom.