What a CROCK!!!
THE ISSUE
To promote a healthy environment, and possibly add some dollars to county coffers, Columbia County commissioners recently agreed to seek out potential partners to manufacture and sell carbon credits generated by the Baker Place Road Landfill.
WHAT IS IT?
Through a burning process, it is possible to convert methane gases generated by landfill waste into less harmful carbon dioxide.
The carbon dioxide then can be sold as carbon credits to companies manufacturing more greenhouse gases than the law allows.
The Environmental Protection Agency assigns a monetary value, which changes based on market forces, to each tonnage of methane converted into carbon dioxide. Overpolluting companies are allowed to purchase that tonnage, or credits, to reduce their carbon footprint.
THE ECONOMICS
A carbon credit operation at the county landfill might generate $1 million in revenues during a 10-year span, according to a study by Atlanta-based consulting firm Jordan, Jones and Goulding Inc.
The gross profits over a decade could reach nearly $2 million, according to the study.
To establish a collection and control system at the landfill might cost as much as $525,000. The operations and maintenance of such a facility might cost between $20,000 to $30,000.
Any profits generated with carbon credits would have to be split with whatever private company the county chooses to partner with. The study recommended that the county seek out a partnership with a group with the technical expertise needed to construct and operate a carbon credit facility.
THE TIME FRAME
County officials hope to start advertising in February for those interested in partnering on a carbon credit venture.
Once the proposal is advertised, county Construction and Maintenance Division Director Scott Herring said he would expect responses by March or April. It will then likely take four to six weeks to review proposals and make committee recommendations.
Should commissioners approve moving forward with a proposal, it might take another month to settle on a term and sign contracts, Mr. Herring said.
Comments
What a CROCK!!!
To some people who know what you are talking about, this looks an awful lot like a waste of methane, which could be used to produce energy. The methane would still be burned and would probably still be salable as carbon credits. Me thinks Columbia County needs to view all of the options before deciding to waste energy foolishly.
As stated above by Tujeez, why not burn the methane to produce something useful, like electricity and steam or hot water that can be sold off to industry? The methane still gets burned and still produces carbon dioxide. Does this mean that Columbia County is currently allowing the methane to vent to the atmosphere?
Why on earth couldn't they have set up a system to use the methane produced by the landfill to generate enough electricity to supply the new high school being built right next door? Now THAT would have been an intelligent idea.
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