Have you ever ridden by a landfill and watch flames coming out of pipes emerging from the debris and say to yourself-what a waste of energy/heat??? That’s called off gassing to relieve gas build up from garbage. Although, in 2013, Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative Corp. (RECC) and the City of Glasgow, KY wanted to capture that gas and convert it to electric energy. 

Farmers RECC , East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC), and the City of Glasgow are proud of the successful completion and operation of the landfill-gas-to-electric (LFGTE) power plant . Integral to the City being able to construct the system was their $200,000 cash contribution and a $1 million, zero-interest, 10 year Rural Economic Development Loan (REDL) approved by USDA Rural Development, awarded via Farmers RECC to the City of Glasgow. 

“This project is a shining example of how multiple organizations can work together to innovatively address our needs and benefit the entire community,” said Bill Prather, former President and CEO of Farmers RECC. “We are proud of our partnership with the City of Glasgow and EKPC, and what it means to improving the quality of life in our community. We’re also appreciative of the USDA Rural Development’s Rural Economic Development Loan program and how it can help to make projects like this a reality.” - Quote from Bill Prather, Past President/CEO, Farmers RECC

The plant, located at the city’s Glasgow Regional Landfill, is fueled by methane gas from the landfill. The methane is captured and harvested from the landfill by an extensive collection system that the city of Glasgow constructed. The access to these funds greatly reduced the cost to construct the methane collection system. Installation of the system allowed the city to meet current state and federal requirements on the management of the landfill’s methane emissions. The project was completed in 2016 and reached full generating capacity in 2020. The plant generates 1 megawatt of electricity and Farmers RECC distributes the power to its members.

The Glasgow LFGTE plant generates enough electricity to have any one of the following annual environmental impacts:

• Offset greenhouse gas emissions from more than 1 million miles driven by an average passenger vehicle; or
• Offset CO2 emissions from more than 50,000 gallons of gasoline consumed; or
• Offset CO2 emissions from more than 1,000 barrels of oil consumed.

Each day this landfill generates about 16,320 kWh and that is roughly on average close to powering the electric use of one and half homes (1.5) for a full years electric use-say powering 547 homes!!

Farmers RECC offers tours of the Landfill-Gas-to-Energy plant on an appointment only basis. To learn more about the plant, or to request a tour, please contact Farmers RECC at 270-651-2191.

"In 2014, Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative secured a $1 million Rural Economic Development Loan through the USDA, which helped the City of Glasgow finance a methane capture project at the Glasgow Regional Landfill. We not only effectively captured our methane, reducing CO2 emissions and improving air quality in our area, but our partnership created a low-cost way to create renewable energy for our community via East Kentucky Power’s Landfill Gas-to-Electricity Plant. The plant is generating enough electricity to power approximately 500 homes in our community. I am proud to have been a part of this project which will benefit our community for decades to come." - Rhonda Trautman, Former Mayor of Glasgow 2016, Kentucky