A new 1,000 kilowatt generator at Carolina North converts methane gas from the Orange County landfill into electricity for the grid. The University and Orange County started the Landfill Gas Recovery Agreement in 2009 as a way to reduce carbon emissions, provide a revenue stream to Orange County, and advance UNC’s carbon-neutrality goals. The University currently sells the electricity generated to the Duke Energy power grid, but plans to eventually use it to power buildings at Carolina North. Methane is a greenhouse gas with 25 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. By keeping methane out of the atmosphere, the University will receive carbon credits and move towards its goal of being carbon-neutral by 2050. The total emissions reduction as a result of the project is equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from 8,000 passenger vehicles. Read more »
