S&ME named ‘Industry Partner’ with EPA in helping to find green uses for landfill gasses

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has named S&ME, Inc., a Raleigh-based engineering and environmental firm, an Industry Partner in the agency’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP).

The LMOP program is designed to reduce methane emissions from landfills by encouraging development of cost-effective and environmentally sound landfill gas (LFG) energy projects.

Thomas Raymond, P.E., environmental services manager for S&ME’s Raleigh branch, said S&ME’s recognition from the EPA comes on the heels of the firm’s recent efforts in providing LFG services to Edgecombe County, North Carolina for the county’s landfill. S&ME used an EPA-developed software to calculate the rate of the naturally occurring gas produced by the landfill based on site-specific characteristics.

“With appropriate systems and technology design, LFG can be converted into useful energy forms such as electricity, steam, heat and even vehicle fuel, while reducing emissions of methane – a potent greenhouse gas,” Raymond said. S&ME’s approach centered on design of LFG and condensate collection systems with a flare to burn off excess gas.

S&ME prepared a preliminary LFG system design, specific for the landfill as well as estimated costs for sampling, testing, permitting and system operations and maintenance. The firm then assisted the county with strategies for establishing an LFG task force. In this effort, S&ME worked with the Appalachian State University Energy Center. Through ASU’s Community TIES (Trash Into Energy Savings) program, the university was successful in obtaining funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation. S&ME also consulted with ASU, Golden LEAF and the County on obtaining carbon credit options and funding.

S&ME provided links to potential carbon brokers through relationships established in previous projects of this nature. The company further provided various system tests and reporting designs. “It’s satisfying to gain the Industry Partner recognition from EPA and to help entities such as Edgecombe County find green and economical solutions,” Raymond said.