$131 Million Natural Gas Facility Opens In Falls Twp.
Waste Management opened its new Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility in Falls Township on Thursday.
The $131 million project at the Waste Management Fairless Landfill complex on New Ford Mill Road is set to transform landfill gas into a cleaner energy source capable of powering thousands of homes.
Located just across from the Wheelabrator Falls waste-to-energy plant, the new facility is projected to generate approximately 3 million MMBtu of RNG each year, according to Waste Management.
Company officials the RNG produces enough energy to power an estimated 63,000 households annually.
The project created 125 construction jobs and eight permanent positions at the new facility.
Local leaders and company officials gathered to celebrate the opening and point to the project’s impact on both the environment and the local economy.
“WM is proud to bring more renewable energy to eastern Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region as part of our continued sustainability growth strategy,” said Chris Farley, area vice president, Waste Management Greater Mid-Atlantic. “Not only has this project helped bolster the local economy by creating jobs, but it also expands WM’s ability to capture and transform landfill gas into a lower-emission energy source that can power communities and even a portion of our own natural gas truck fleet.”
The Fairless RNG Facility will harness landfill gas from the nearby operating Waste Management Fairless Landfill and the previously closed GROWS-North Landfill.
Officials explained that the captured gas will then be processed into renewable natural gas and directly sent to natural gas pipelines.
Until 2020, the Pennsbury Generating Station, which was operated by Exelon Generation, utilized landfill gas to power homes. However, the plant was idled due to economic factors, including low electricity demand and prices led to the closure.
Waste Management officials said the Falls Township project is a key component of the company’s plan to invest over $1.6 billion in 20 new RNG facilities nationwide between 2022 and 2026. Eight of these facilities are already operational.
Once all are online, Waste Management said they are expected to generate enough renewable energy to power 1.7 million homes and further support Waste Management’s transition to cleaner fuel for its own vehicle fleet.
At present, nearly half of the fuel used by the company’s natural gas trucks comes from renewable sources.
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