WILL COUNTY, ILL. — Waste Management and officials of Will County have announced a partnership to develop a landfill gas-to-energy plant at Prairie View Recycling & Disposal Facility, the primary landfill for Will County that is located near Wilmington. Initial plans call for the installation of three to four reciprocating engines, which will be able to produce 2.4 to 3.2 megawatts of electricity for the local grid. Waste Management will build and operate the facility, which should be operational by 2010. Will County plans to apply for federal economic stimulus funds for the renewable energy project, and the county expects to be able to contribute at least $1 million in stimulus funds toward the project once the grant process is complete. Prairie View is owned by the county and operated under a long-term agreement by Waste Management. In 2007, Waste Management announced plans to add 60 gas-to-energy plants to its network by 2013. Its 11 Illinois plants currently generate 41.5 megawatts of electricity — enough to power more than 35,000 homes.
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