Landfill gas to power US Marine base

Talking Points Memo : The US Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego, California, has earned the distinction of being the first ever green Marine Corps facility. It is showcasing a new landfill gas recovery project, whereby the natural gas released by a San Diego landfill is expected to generate about 25 million kilowatt-hours per year, or about half of Miramar’s electricity needs. Landfills release natural gas through decomposition, as microorganisms break down the organic materials in garbage. Miramar’s gas recovery project will serve an additional purpose as well: Landfills are the third largest source of methane emissions from human activity in the US, so the project will also reduce the amount of that greenhouse gas entering the atmosphere.