In 2006, ZFS built a pipeline from a local landfill to our facility. Since then, this six-mile pipeline has been capturing methane gas that would have otherwise been burned into the air and wasted. This renewable landfill gas is used to fire two reciprocating engines that produce electricity which is sold to Consumers Energy for their Green Generation Program. Landfill gas is also used in our boilers to produce steam.

Initial use of the landfill gas provides environmental benefits equivalent to:

• Removing 21,000 cars off the road per year, or
• Planting 28,000 acres of trees per year, or
• Not consuming 480 railcars of coal per year, or
• Not consuming 228,000 barrels of oil per year, or
• Providing over 2,100 homes with electricity per year

The gas flows are expected to progressively increase until 2027. As they peak, the greenhouse gas reductions will be equivalent to:

• Removing 98,000 cars from the roads per year, or
• Planting 133,000 acres of trees per year, or
• Not consuming 2,205 railcars of coal per year, or
• Not consuming 900,000 barrels of oil per year, or
• Providing over 8,050 homes with electricity per year