Spartanburg-based Milliken & Company and Spartanburg County have partnered to harvest methane gas from the Spartanburg County Landfill in Wellford, S.C., to power Milliken’s Dewey Chemical manufacturing plant near Inman, S.C.

Spartanburg County will build and operate an enhanced methane extraction system at the landfill and a gas pipeline from the landfill to Dewey. Milliken will modify the plant to use the gas, which it will purchase from the county to replace the natural gas it currently uses in its manufacturing operation.

“The project will produce financial benefits for both parties and, perhaps most importantly, it will produce significant environmental benefits and help us to reach our goals for improving local air quality,” said Glenn Breed, Spartanburg County administrator. “The good news from a renewable energy standpoint is that the marketable supply of methane will extend for decades as the Wellford Landfill is fully utilized for years to come.”

April 29, 2008