Recently community leaders gathered for a tour of the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County Renewable Energy Park in Florida including the country’s first waste-to-energy plant to be built since 1995.
Waste-to-Energy produces a consistent source of renewable energy and the technology is prime in country’s energy mix, after the rules proposed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on carbon emission.
The EPA’s proposal on power facilities will set a national target of lowering these carbon emissions of 25 percent by 2020 and 30 percent by 2030.
Florida will have to develop and submit plans for cutting emissions by 38 percent before June 2016, before finalizing the rules.
These new rules will force coal-fired power plants to reduce their carbon emissions, leaving these facilities with the either upgrade or shut down choice. Florida generates about one quarter of its electricity from coal and both options mean higher electricity prices for Florida consumers.
According to Consumer Energy Alliance each energy source plays an important economic role with national security purpose. The technological advancement of WtE technology is impressive and for Florida this option is necessary.
The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County’s Renewable Energy Park is designed to process more than 1.7 million tons of solid waste per year and generate enough renewable energy to power more than 85,000 homes.
With a facility to employ more than 200 workers, this is designed to have high combustion efficiency and eliminate 90 to 99 percent of acid gas, heavy metal and dioxins emissions.
The additional facility will reduce the amount of waste being land-filled by up to 85 percent, which can suspend a new landfill in Palm Beach County.
As the EPA updates with new rules and regulations, it is important to have different options available to ensure stable electricity for America.
Waste to Energy technology can be one of those options for all of Florida as the new facility in South Florida now exhibits.