Wicomico County Public Works Director Rai Sharma unveiled the gas-to-energy power plant, which generates 6 MW of electricity daily for local use.  “Today, in my opinion, we are making history in Wicomico County,” Sharma said.  “Who would ever think that when we finally take the trash out of our homes and go bury it somewhere, that there would still be life in that trash,” said County Executive Rick Pollitt.  “There would be ways to benefit the community, and taking the garbage that can light homes...it’s a tremendous idea, and we should be proud of the staff in this county.”

The idea to bring the plant to the county’s Newland Park Landfill began in 2002.  An agreement between the county and INGENCO was finalized in January 2005.  Since then, INGENCO has had to earn permits from Maryland’s Public Service Commission, the state Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies, said Alan Petersen, INGENCO’s Vice President of Development.

The Wicomico plant was fully operational in May.

Source: “Electricity Made from Trash: Wicomico Plant Converts Methane from Decomposition into Usable Power” by Joseph Gidjunis, The Daily Times, Salisbury, Maryland, October 11, 2007. 

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