A landfill methane energy project breaks ground in California.

Ameresco Energy will build and operate the plant at the Neal Road Waste and Recycling Facility. The plant will initially generate up to 2.2 MW of electricity, but could expand to 4.3 MW. Ameresco was awarded a contract in 2008 to collect methane gas produced by the landfill and burn it to generate electricity.

The project is expected to use a GE (NYSE: GE) Jenbacher 16-cylinder engine and will be built in phases rather than all at once as originally planned.

Butte County will buy the generated output through a 25-year power purchase agreement. The project is expected to go online in January 2012.

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