Officials from East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) and Bavarian Waste Services today dedicated the expansion of the cooperative’s power plant, which is fueled by methane gas from the landfill.

EKPC’s plant at Bavarian Landfill in Boone County, Ky., is the largest landfill gas power plant in the state. It was EKPC’s first such plant when it began operations in 2003. Today, the cooperative has six landfill gas power plants in Kentucky.

“This power plant at Bavarian Landfill plays an important role in providing safe, reliable, affordable energy for our 16 owner-member cooperatives and more than 1 million Kentuckians served by those co-ops,” said Don Mosier, EKPC’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President.

In the past year, the power plant was expanded so it can generate nearly 50 percent more electricity. It can generate enough electricity to power more than 2,700 homes.

“This is resource recovery at its best,” said Jim Brueggemann, President of Bavarian.  “It’s not only efficient but clean, and transforms our landfill into an energy factory. As the garbage decomposes we extract the typically undesirable gas for a fuel source that EKPC can use to generate electricity,” Brueggemann explained.  “Bavarian has enjoyed an excellent relationship with EKPC through the years, and we’re thankful to be expanding that today.”

By using methane as fuel, the plant prevents the powerful greenhouse gas from escaping into the atmosphere.

EKPC owns and operates five other landfill gas plants in Kentucky. They are located in Barren, Greenup, Hardin, Laurel and Pendleton counties. Together, these plants generate enough electricity to power more than 8,000 Kentucky homes.