Durham's landfill gas will soon be going to good use -- energy.

The City of Durham, along with Methane Power, Inc. and Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday to recognize the completion and start-up operation of the City of Durham Landfill Gas-to-Energy Green Power Project. Featured guest speakers include City of Durham Mayor William V. "Bill" Bell, Duke Energy District Manager Ken Kernodle, Leo LeBlanc with Methane Power, Inc. and Chris Godlove with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Landfill gas, largely methane, is produced when organic materials in large landfills decompose. This greenhouse gas, if allowed to be released to the atmosphere, is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.

Durham's project captures the gas produced at the City's closed landfill and will fuel three 20-cylinder engines to convert it into electricity. Using the gas to produce electricity is not only cost effective, but also eliminates this potent gas that otherwise is a major contributor to global warming. Ultimately, this project will generate approximately three megawatts of electricity, which is equivalent to powering about 1,900 average-sized homes annually.

"Not only does this project support Durham's green energy efforts by converting landfill gas into renewable energy, it also provides a financial benefit to our taxpayers by offsetting the costs of the required post-closure landfill monitoring," said Mayor Bell. "This is just another example of how Durham is leading the way in protecting and preserving our community's natural environment."

Under the terms of the partnership, Duke Energy will purchase the renewable energy certificates and three megawatts of renewable energy generated at the landfill.

Methane Power has made a $5 million investment in the City of Durham to construct the new facility, which will harness the landfill gas and turn it into renewable energy that will then be purchased by Duke Energy.

According to Lewis Gay, vice president of Methane Power, landfill gas is one of the most economical renewable options available in North Carolina and it uses proven technology.

"We are dedicated to providing North Carolina with as much renewable energy as possible from landfill gas," Gay said.