Methane gas released from the Orange County Landfill will soon be transported via pipeline to a power generation system that will turn the gas into electricity in a process called methane flaring.
The project is a joint effort between UNC and the Orange County Landfill, and will give UNC carbon credits for pollution reduction, which will help the university meet its goal of reducing its carbon footprint to zero by 2050. The methane gas will be turned to energy at a facility located on the Carolina North campus and will be returned back into the grid.
If permitted, pipeline installation will begin in early 2012 and could be connected to the generator location in August 2012, allowing the process to start as early as the end of 2012.