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June 22, 2010

Alameda Municipal Power Receives National Award for Energy Innovation

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 22, 2010 — Alameda, Calif., Alameda Municipal Power received the American Public Power Association’s (APPA) Energy Innovator Award at the association’s National Conference in Orlando, Fla.  This award recognizes an innovative utility program that provides better service to electricity customers or increases the efficiency of utility operations.

Alameda Municipal Power recognized that garbage-laden landfills are a valuable source of renewable energy, and consequently in 2001 the utility began actively seeking methane capture opportunities to incorporate in its power portfolio. Today, the utility takes power from four landfill-gas-to-energy plants, with other opportunities being pursued. More than 20 percent of the power consumed in Alameda is generated by landfill-gas-to-energy facilities.

Alameda’s customers benefit from a clean, renewable, reliable, and economical resource. The landfill-gas-to-energy projects offset the need for nonrenewable resources such as coal, natural gas, and oil, and reduce air pollutants, including methane emissions. Furthermore the project creates local employment opportunities associated with design, construction, and operation of energy recovery systems to help the economy. Landfill gas to energy use reinforces better waste management and converts a regional liability, namely land-polluting and -clogging trash, into an asset. The purchase of energy from landfill-gas-to-energy facilities is one contributing factor that allows Alameda to provide electricity to the residents and businesses of Alameda at rates that are 20-25 percent lower than electric rates in surrounding communities.

APPA created the Energy Innovator Award in 1981 to honor public power utilities that have made outstanding advances in the development or application of highly creative energy-efficient techniques and technologies. Award consideration is given to those systems participating in APPA’s Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments (DEED) program. DEED was established in 1980 to sponsor and conduct activities related to energy innovation, improving efficiencies, and lowering the cost of providing energy services to the customers of publicly owned electric utilities. It has funded more than $8.5 million in energy projects since it was created. 

APPA’s 2009-2010 Chair, Marc Gerken presents the 2010 Energy Innovator Award to City of Alameda Public Utilities Board President Greg Hamm and Commissioner John McCahan. Photo courtesy APPA.

The American Public Power Association (APPA) is the service organization for the nation's more than 2,000 community-owned electric utilities that serve more than 45 million Americans.  More info is available at the APPA website.