Landfill gas to power three Lynchburg-area colleges

City of Lynchburg

“It’s an energy source that otherwise would be trashed, but five small Virginia colleges -- three in the Lynchburg area -- are taking advantage of it. It's landfill gas, the toxic methane that landfills routinely capture and flare off. Lynchburg College, Randolph College, Sweet Briar College, Emory & Henry and Hollins University have partnered with Collegiate Clean Energy, a business that is an affiliate of Ingenco, a landfill gas energy operator. The company captures methane off of the landfill and turns it into electricity, which is sold back to utilities.

In a practical sense, the changes at Emory & Henry will be as simple as switching from one electricity provider to another, through Appalachian Power, said Jesse Freedman, energy manager for the college. He said he expects the switch to happen within the next two months. The change will help reduce the college’s carbon footprint and will go a long way toward helping the college reach its carbon neutral goal, he added.”

~Writes Allie Robinson Gibson of the Bristol Herald Courier

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Oceanfront street to undergo 3-year makeover

Virginia Beach

“Pacific Avenue at the Oceanfront is in store for a major makeover that is expected to take three years to complete. The $15 million project is expected to start this fall. Work includes the reconstruction of the southbound lanes from 15th Street to 23rd Street, new pavement heading northbound, new sidewalks and street lights, along with improvements to sewer, water and gas lines.

‘It's been in need of improvements for a long, long time,’ said George Smith, owner of Juice Box Surf Shop on Pacific Avenue. While he knows the project is important, Smith worries about his bottom line during construction.”

~Writes Philip Townsend of 13News Now

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