Morrow Energy, a renewable natural gas treating equipment supplier from Midland, Texas, is seeking permission to build a facility at Shoosmith Bros.’ landfill in Chester that would capture the methane gas released by the landfill and turn it into renewable gas. JAMES HASKINS
For decades Chester has had that funk – the wafting odor of garbage that leaks out of Shoosmith Bros.’ landfill, especially on humid, windy days, and permeates surrounding neighborhoods, businesses, schools and the government offices and courthouse along Iron Bridge Road.
But it could soon be a lot less funky. Last week, the Chesterfield County Planning Commission greenlighted a new biogas processing facility that would be located on 10 acres next to the landfill off state Route 10. Morrow Energy, a renewable natural gas treating equipment supplier from Midland, Texas, is seeking permission to build a facility that would capture the methane gas released by the landfill and turn it into renewable gas, which is then funneled to a nearby TransCanada pipeline.
Decomposing waste at landfills like Shoosmith’s, which was built in the 1970s, produces toxic, foul-smelling vapors made up primarily of methane and carbon dioxide. It’s also a big problem for the environment: Landfills produce roughly 15% of the methane released into the atmosphere in the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and it’s a major contributor to climate change.
Paul Morrow, chief executive of Morrow Energy, says the process works by building a series of wells into the landfill and essentially vacuuming the biogas – which is roughly 60% methane and 40% carbon dioxide – into a treatment plant. The carbon dioxide is extracted and the reprocessed gas is then sold and transported to the pipeline. Since 2000, the company has built 15 of these facilities, Morrow said.
“Capitalism and environmentalism fit hand in glove here,” Morrow explained after the meeting last week. “You reduce the carbon footprint of the landfill by 60% by removing the methane.”
The added bonus: Removing the methane largely eliminates the odor. At a similar gas processing facility built at a landfill in Fort Bend County, Texas, Morrow said the company was able to eliminate more than 90% of the odor. After the facility was built in 2018, according to the company, the number of odor complaints received by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality declined 98%.
Brennen Keene, an attorney representing Morrow Energy, added that the facilities like the one planned at Shoosmith essentially reduce the country’s dependence on petroleum.
“It’s a way to help minimize the amount of petroleum and natural gas resources that are burned, reducing the amount of fossil fuel that is used,” he said. “They are incentivized to get as much gas as possible and put it into the pipeline. And that’s what reduces the smell.”
The proposal now heads to the Board of Supervisors for final approval. If the permitting process moves along without major hiccups, Morrow said the company could begin construction in the first quarter of 2022. If all goes as planned, Morrow said, the facility could be operational by June or July of next year.
Also at last week’s meeting: • The planning commission unanimously approved a new senior living facility by Atlanta-based Centric Development off Midlothian Turnpike, just west of the Wegmans shopping center near the Stonehenge community.
Centric, a company that owns, operates and develops senior housing, plans to build an independent and assisted living facility with up to 300 units on the roughly 15-acre property. It’s the first of four possible senior facilities the company anticipates building in the Richmond area, said David Vickers, president of Centric Development.
It’s a relatively new brand for the company, called Amplify Senior Living, the first of which is about to break ground in Fredericksburg. The company also owns and operates six Brickmont Senior Living facilities in the Atlanta area.
• Commissioners also recommended approval of a new 495-home subdivision west of the North Woolridge Road and state Route 288 interchange called The Villages of Charter Colony West. Plans call for up to 375 single family homes and 120 townhouses on 157 acres abutting 288.
The proposal includes a thoroughfare road connecting Old Otterdale Road and Charter Park Drive, which connects to Woolridge Road near the 288 interchange.
At least one resident spoke against the new subdivision by HHHunt, citing concerns over traffic, environmental impact and nearby schools, particularly Watkins Elementary.
“The safest option for our kids, and for our parents, is for the county to deny the rezoning request, but at the very least the request should not be approved unless and until [the Virginia Department of Transportation] approves additional traffic and pedestrian safety measures,” said Jessica Romero, who lives in Stewart Village, a neighborhood adjacent to the proposed subdivision.
The developer is proposing a traffic signal at Charter Park Drive and Woolridge, said HHHunt’s attorney, Jeffrey Geiger, and is also “committed” to providing crosswalks “to help move pedestrians across Charter Park Drive.” First, however, VDOT must approve the plans.
• The planning commission also unanimously approved a mixed-use commercial and residential development by Caduceus Development LLC at Iron Bridge Road and Ironbridge Parkway in Chester. Plans call for commercial development fronting Iron Bridge Road with an apartment complex situated toward the back of the property, with 205 units. ¦
"smell" - Google News
September 29, 2021 at 10:39PM
https://ift.tt/39LVOOO
Proposed biogas facility at Shoosmith landfill promises to cut the smell – and the carbon footprint - Chesterfield Observer
"smell" - Google News
https://ift.tt/35zrwu1
https://ift.tt/3b8aPsv
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Proposed biogas facility at Shoosmith landfill promises to cut the smell – and the carbon footprint - Chesterfield Observer"
Post a Comment