Public sector fleet vehicles will be driving on the equivalent of $2/gallon fuel through the partnership of Newport Beach, CA-based FirmGreen Inc. and the Waste Authority of Central Ohio, which opened a Green Energy Center near Columbus, OH, on Monday.

Under contract with the public sector solid waste management agency, FirmGreen built a landfill gas processing facility and fueling station that pumps the equivalent of compressed natural gas (CNG) from the landfill directly to a nearby refueling station.

The Southern California firm’s system uses an Acrion Technologies process to convert the landfill-produced raw methane into a pipeline quality gas. The cleaned methane in turn is developed into “green compressed natural gas,” or gCNG, to fuel cars and light-duty trucks. FirmGreen developed the trademarked gCNG brand on its vehicle fuel.

Ohio’s central waste authority operates the landfill that provides the biogas. This is the first phase of multi-phase development between FirmGreen and the waste management unit. Ultimately, it is planned to provide the equivalent in CNG of 30,000 gallons of gasoline.

“The facility can produce fuel at a gasoline gas equivalent of $2/gallon, compared to Ohio’s recent cost of $4.85/gallon for diesel fuel,” said FirmGreen’s spokesperson, noting that the process could result in a net savings of $60,000/day for Ohio fleets.

Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio operates the Franklin County (OH) Landfill, three transfer stations, and promotes recycling and waste reduction programs for consumers and businesses in Franklin County.

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