Thunder Bay approves landfill methane power plant

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO - Construction will begin in the next few weeks on a new power generating station at the Thunder Bay Landfill.

Council gave the go ahead on the $9 million-to-$10 million project that will convert methane gas into green energy. Thunder Bay Hydro President Rob Mace said the project should be completed by August of 2010.

The new power plant is expected to generate 3.2-megawatts of power. ThatÂ’s enough electricity to power 2,000 homes.

The station will also convert 7-million cubic metres of methane gas from the landfill, which would normally be released into the environment.

The contract to build the plant has been awarded to Venshore Mechanical Ltd. of Thunder Bay.