In 2008 Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL) began operating a landfill gas to energy plant located at the Moretown landfill.  The plant has been running at nearly full capacity, using the gas generated by decomposing trash to produce electricity. Prior to 2008,the gas generated from the landfill was combusted using two flares.

The plant generates approximately 3.2 MW of electricity at full capacity, which is sufficient to power approximately 2500 homes.  It currently operates two Caterpillar engines (G3520) designed for landfill gas at a flow rate of 550 scfm to each of the 2233 hp engine (picture right).  These are the same engines used at the NEWSVT/Waste USA landfill in Coventry, Vermont.

Any excess gas not able to be burned in the engines is combusted in a flare. PPL plans to add a third engine in 2011 or 2012.

One of the Caterpillar G3520 engines