March 17, 2003—The Dow Chemical Company and The World Resources Institute have announced that Dow is joining the Green Power Market Development Group.
The Green Power Market Development Group’s goal is to expand awareness of and markets for cost-competitive renewable energy by providing objective information and recognition for those making it their choice for energy supply.
Recently, Dow signed a contract to capture and use landfill methane at its Dalton, Georgia polyurethane, latex and polystyrene manufacturing plant. Dow will take approximately 240 billion Btu per year of landfill gas from a county-owned landfill, located two miles from the plant, and use it in place of natural gas. The landfill gas will be used to generate steam for general manufacturing purposes. This amount of energy is equivalent to the same amount electricity used in approximately 2100 average U.S. homes annually. Greenhouse gas emissions are reduced using this renewable resource.
This use of landfill gas will avoid the emissions of more than 27 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year. The carbon dioxide emissions avoided are comparable to keeping 2,300 cars off the road annually.
The company is also currently examining wind power, and fuel cells, along with other landfill gas projects as it pursues more sustainable energy production and reductions in greenhouse gases. Dow will begin using this new source of energy during the fourth quarter.
For more information, contact The Green Power Market Development Group.
