Sunshine Gas Producers begins renewable energy production in California

SYLMAR, Calif., Oct. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunshine Gas Producers, a joint venture between DTE Biomass Energy and EIF Renewable Energy Holdings through its subsidiary Landfill Energy Systems, has started generating electricity from landfill gas at its recently constructed renewable energy facility at the Sunshine Canyon Landfill in Sylmar.

DTE Biomass Energy, the developer and operator of the project, declared commercial operation of the 20-megawatt (MW) facility at the landfill, owned and operated by Browning-Ferris Industries of California Inc., a subsidiary of Republic Services. Landfill gas generated at the site will be used to produce renewable energy to be sold to Pacific Gas & Electric under a long-term power purchase agreement.

The power plant, which includes five turbine generators and a staff of four, is capable of generating enough renewable electricity to power nearly 25,000 California homes.

"This is the successful result of more than 10 years of effort which has been made possible by strong partnerships with Republic Services, PG&E and Landfill Energy Systems," said Mark Cousino, DTE Biomass Energy president. "It's gratifying to see that Californians will reap the benefits of our hard work for years to come through the renewable energy produced by this project."

"We are proud to help fulfill California's 33 percent renewable energy goal through our investment in this base load electric production facility," said Richard M. DiGia, president of EIF Renewable Energy Holdings. "The opening of the Sunshine Canyon Landfill facility is another positive step for the use of domestic renewable energy to drive cost-effective and cleaner energy production by enabling the conversion of landfill gas from waste into power generation."

About DTE Biomass Energy
Founded in 1988, DTE Biomass Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of DTE Energy, a diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide.

About EIF Renewable Energy Holdings
Headquartered in Novi, Mich., EIF Renewable Energy Holdings is one of the premier landfill gas-to-energy companies in the United States. Through its mergers of Landfill Energy Systems, Innovative Energy Systems and Timberline Energy, the company  owns and operates a diversified portfolio of landfill  gas projects across 16 states, collectively representing nearly 265 MWe of base load renewable energy capacity. 

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SOURCE DTE Biomass Energy