1. What is Renewable Energy?

Energy drawn from a source that is infinite or is replenished through natural processes is considered renewable. We call renewable energy 'Earth Energy', and it comes from clean, non-polluting sources such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, small hydro and fuel cells. Fuel sources from renewable energy are replenishable and will never run out. It is safe and domestically produced. And renewable energy has drastically lower emissions of pollution, and does not create waste or greenhouse gases.


2. What Types of Renewable Energy are Available Today?

SOLAR - technology uses heat and light from the sun to generate electricity, provide heat, light, cooling, and hot water. Solar energy does not produce emissions nor does it have other environment impacts. FUEL CELLS - Energy in hydrogen is used to generate electricity and produce heat primarily through the use of fuel cells. By way of a chemical reaction, fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. BIOMASS - Organic matter, such as plants and animal waste, and municipal solid waste, such as that found in landfills, is burned or changed into gases to generate electricity.
WIND - Using two or three propeller-like blades that are mounted on a rotor, wind turbines capture the wind's energy to generate electricity. The turbines sit high atop towers, taking advantage of the stronger and less turbulent wind gusts. GEOTHERMAL - Geothermal heat pumps use the constant temperature of the water and soil just under the earth's surface to heat and cool buildings. Steam from underground reservoirs can be harnessed for electricity production. SMALL HYDRO - Flowing water turns turbines in small hydro-electric power plants to generate electricity. Dams on rivers or canals that simply control the river flow are the most commonly used methods for capturing the energy produced by moving water.


3. Why is Renewable Energy Important and Why Should We Care?

Fossil fuels are limited! Scientists estimate oil will run out within 40 years and coal within 250 years. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy is all around us. It need not be imported, so its reliability is not subject to unpredictable circumstances such as world events or natural disasters. Choosing renewable energy means you're doing something positive about the air we breathe, the environment we live in and the condition of the planet we leave to future generations.




4. Which Type of Renewable Energy is Richmond Power and Light Producing?

BIOMASS - turning Landfill gas into Methane gas!

The project is moving forward. RP&L and the Richmond Sanitary Board have partnered to produce electricity from methane gas at the Richmond landfill.

The project is called Earth Energy. A "green power" generating plant that is more friendly to the environment because production of it recycles a resource without the emissions associated with the burning of coal. The system will be based on a similar landfill operation in Danville, Indiana.

Environmentally aware consumers will be able to purchase the power at a slightly higher rate. RP&L expects that here, as in the case in other areas where green power is available, some consumers will be willing to pay more because they will be helping the environment. This project is a good idea that both city agencies have worked on for a long time. It's good for RP&L, the landfill and the environment. That makes it good for the entire community.     - excerpts from Palladium-Item article

There's more in what's thrown away than you might think. By using naturally occurring gas from a landfill, Earth Energy is turning trash into energy that can be used to heat and cool homes and businesses. Instead of allowing landfill gas to escape into the air, we can capture, convert, and use it as a local energy source.

Recovering and using landfill gas reduces air pollution, odors and safety hazards at the landfill, and helps fight global climate change.  See pictures of our progress!



5. How will this Project Loosen the Grip on our Environment?

The green power biomass program, Earth Energy, that will supplement the fossil
fuel (coal) usage at RP&L has the equivalence of . . .

  • Removing emissions from 1,441 cars per year, or

  • Planting 1,947 acres of forest, or

  • Taking 32 railroad cars of coal out of usage or

  • Powering 995 homes for a year.

Landfill gas is the only renewable energy source that, when used, actually removes pollution from the atmosphere. Over 330 landfills across the U.S. are putting their landfill gas to good use.

- Source: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
and Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP).



6. Why Should I Use It?

We're encouraging our entire community - from businesses, universities, to religious institutions and residents - to include renewable energy in their energy mix. We're helping consumers become more aware of the healthy benefits of renewable energy and its role in the long-term stability of our community and our country. We're partnering with organizations to assist customers in understanding how they can purchase cleaner, non-polluting renewable energy. Most of the waste we generate ends up in landfills, where it decomposes and produces landfill gas. When released into the air it smells bad and contributes to local smog. Additionally, landfill gas is about 50% methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change.



7. Where Can I Get It?

Click here to sign up for more information about Earth Energy! By simply signing up for Earth Energy, not only will you be increasing the demand for new technologies, which will help us bring costs down, but you'll also be helping to improve the environment.


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