by Ann Withanee — June 1, 2011—The Dow Chemical Company has announced a power purchase agreement with the City of Midland and Consumers Energy where natural gas created by the city’s landfill will be used to generate electricity to power Dow facilities in its hometown.
Recapturing the landfill gas, which would ordinarily escape into the atmosphere, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 12,000 tons annually, which is the equivalent to the output of more than 20,000 passenger cars. The Gas to Energy project will initially provide approximately 25 percent of Dow’s energy needs for its Corporate Center. Dow expects to source around 50 percent of its needs following the start-up of a second Gas-to-Energy facility by the City of Midland in late 2011.
The City of Midland is recognized as one of the top ten cities in the U.S. for alternative energy and renewable technologies. The City of Midland launched its gas-to-energy project earlier this year, which currently powers the city’s water treatment and wastewater treatment plants.
For more information visit the Dow Web site.
