Missouri Governor Unveils Renewable Energy Project

Jefferson City, MO – Governor Jay Nixon today cut the ribbon on an innovative, new renewable energy project in Jefferson City, Missouri. This renewable energy project, developed through a partnership between Republic Services, Ameresco, Columbia Water & Light, and the State of Missouri, was recently featured at The White House in a meeting hosted by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu. The project was highlighted for its contribution to creating jobs while helping expand the development of clean, renewable domestic energy.

“This project creates a clean, reliable and consistent source of energy from a naturally occurring byproduct of our landfills,” Gov. Nixon said. “I commend this innovative partnership for the benefits it will bring our economy, environment and communities.”

Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) and Ameresco partnered to develop the landfill gas-to-electricity project that uses a gas byproduct from the Jefferson City Landfill. Landfill gas, which is created when organic material naturally decomposes in a landfill, consists of about 50 percent methane. It is a readily available, reliable local alternative energy source that offsets the need for fossil fuels. The gas can be converted and used in many ways: to generate electricity, heat or steam; or as an alternative vehicle fuel.

“This project is the ultimate in recycling,” said Kevin Walbridge, senior vice president Midwest Region, Republic Services. “We are continually researching, developing and implementing innovative technologies to help conserve natural resources.”

Ameresco, the nation’s largest independent energy services company, designed, built, owns and operates the renewable energy project. First, Ameresco constructed a 3-mile pipeline to carry the landfill gas from the landfill to an engine facility located at the Jefferson City Correctional Center (JCCC). The gas is used to generate 3.2 megawatts of electricity. The green power, which is purchased by Columbia Water & Light, provides enough electricity to meet the needs of nearly 2,000 Columbia Water & Light customers. It also reduces green house gas emissions equivalent to planting 31,000 acres of trees and removing almost 28,000 vehicles each year from Missouri roads.

“Projects like these create a domino effect through the economy because they create jobs and require products and services.” said Ameresco’s CEO, George Sakellaris. “The construction and operation of Ameresco’s renewable energy project in Jefferson City created and sustained about 80 jobs in Missouri and across the nation.”

Additionally, Ameresco captures the waste heat generated from the engines to provide steam and hot water for two State-owned correctional centers. Greenhouse gas emissions reductions from using the waste heat to offset natural gas in the boilers are equivalent to heating 1,500 homes, planting 1,300 acres of trees and removing almost 1,000 vehicles each year from Missouri roads. Ameresco is also working with the correctional facility to improve efficiency, reduce energy demand and costs, and to combine the Algoa and Jefferson City Power Plants, reducing overall operations costs and saving taxpayer money.
Landfill gas-to-energy projects are win-win opportunities for all parties involved, whether they are the landfill owner/operators, the local utility, the local government, or the surrounding community.

“For Columbia Water and Light and the City of Columbia, Missouri, purchasing the power from this project helps us comply with the City’s renewable portfolio standard by providing 2% of our electric portfolio” said Darwin Hindman, Mayor, Columbia, MO. “This project provides Columbia with a consistent, clean, green source of energy.”

“Northeast Energy Systems is pleased to supply GEJenbacher technology to this project to support Ameresco’s landfill gas-to-electricity project at the Jefferson City landfill, and we look forward to working with these partners on many other larger-scale landfill gas projects within the US,” said Fred Farrand, Vice President, Northeast Energy Systems.

The Jefferson City Landfill, which is owned and operated by Republic Service’s subsidiary, Allied Waste, opened in 1979 and is one of the main recipients of refuse from residents and businesses in the area. The landfill covers 319 acres of land and employs eight area residents. The Jefferson City Landfill is Republic’s second gas-to-energy project in Missouri. The landfill gas project is one of Republic Services’ 76 alternative energy projects at its landfills nationwide.

About Republic Services
Republic Services is a leading provider of solid waste collection, transfer, recycling and disposal services. Allied Waste merged with Republic Services in December 2008. The company provides trash collection services to commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers in 40 states and Puerto Rico through its 400 collection companies. Republic Services owns or operates 242 transfer stations, 213 solid waste landfills and 78 recycling facilities. The company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona and has 34,000 employees. For more information, visit the Republic Services Web site at www.republicservices.com.

About Ameresco
Ameresco is the largest independent energy service company in North America. In addition to its expertise in developing landfill gas projects and other renewable energy sources, Ameresco has two other energy service lines—energy conservation and energy risk mitigation. The company has more than 550 employees in 50 regional offices throughout North America, and it has constructed more than $4 billion in energy projects throughout the world. Learn more at www.ameresco.com.

Additional Partners
State of Missouri Department of Corrections- http://www.doc.mo.gov/
Columbia Water & Light- http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/WaterandLight/
GE Jenbacher- http://www.gepower.com/prod_serv/products/recip_engines/en/index.htm
Northeast Energy Systems- http://www.neesys.com/