UNC and Orange County will launch a project to convert methane gas from the county landfill into electricity on Tuesday.
Methane gas from the landfill that is released into the atmosphere and contributing to global warming will be captured and converted into electrical energy. UNC will use the energy to power its complex of buildings along Airport Drive and potentially the first buildings constructed at Carolina North.
The first phase of the construction project, the installation of the gas-collection and flaring system, will be completed by July 2011. Officials expect to begin piping the landfill gas to a generator for producing electricity by April 2012.