Pictured here: A part of the huge generator that produces electricity using methane gas produced as trash decomposes in the landfill. Photo by Max Cooper.
Here’s a couple of the highlights from the April 3 meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners. We’ll have a full report in the April 11 issue of Xpress.
• The board was updated on the “Landfill Gas to Energy Project.” In the works for several years, the program aims to tap methane gas that is produced as trash decomposes in the landfill and use it to generate electricity. The new generator began producing electricity at full capacity this month, and is expected to produce 1.4 megawatts of electricity for the next several years, enough to power about 1,100 homes per year. The roughly $4.5 million project was funded in large part by a federal stimulus money. The county will hold an official ribbon-cutting for the project later this month.
• Health and Human Services Department staff reported to the commissioners that they’re in the midst of a new initiative to help prevent child abuse. Children six years old and younger are the most common victims of abuse, according to the presentation. Last year, four Buncombe County children died as the result of abuse. Nationwide, an average of 5 million instances of child abuse are reported every year.
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