CALGARY, June 20 /PR Newswire/ -- Suncor Energy Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Conestoga-Rovers and Associates of Waterloo, Ontario, to pursue opportunities to produce alternative and renewable energy from Canadian municipal landfills.
Conestoga-Rovers and Associates (CRA) is an international engineering and environmental services firm and an industry leader in the recovery and control of landfill gas. Under the five-year agreement, Suncor and CRA plan to identify, design, develop and operate landfill gas projects in Canada. These projects are expected to involve the use of landfill gas collection and control systems that have been successfully used in North America and Europe.
Landfill gas is produced by the natural decay of organic wastes, such as kitchen scraps and lawn cuttings, in municipal landfills. The recovery of this gas could provide a reliable source of methane fuel for heating or generating electricity, as well as the potential for providing carbon dioxide for commercial use. Landfill gas recovery could also provide important environmental benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and local landfill odors.
The plan to pursue landfill gas recovery is a part of Suncor's commitment to invest $100 million in alternative and renewable energy projects over the next five years. This initiative is a first step towards building a business in alternative and renewable energy that creates economic value for shareholders while also creating environmental and social benefits.
"Landfill gas recovery projects offer an immediate and viable alternative energy option,'' says Gerry Manwell, Suncor's vice president, alternate energy business development. "We want to invest in alternatives for the future, at the same time we are growing our existing energy businesses responsibly to serve today's needs. Through our agreement with CRA, we're aligning Suncor with the best in the landfill gas recovery business.''
"We are very pleased to be working with Suncor in pursuing landfill gas opportunities,'' says Frank Rovers, CRA's Chairman. "This agreement clearly demonstrates that Suncor is being proactive in supporting development of a significant alternative and renewable energy resource in Canada.''
Suncor Energy is a Canada-based international integrated energy company operating an oil sands plant in Fort McMurray, Alberta, and a natural gas business in Western Canada. In Ontario, Suncor has a refining and marketing operation managed under the brand name Sunoco. Suncor Energy common shares and preferred securities are listed for trading on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges (symbol SU).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
SUNCOR PLANS TO PURSUE LANDFILL GAS OPPORTUNITIES
Landfill gas
Landfill gas is generated by the natural decay or anaerobic decomposition of organic wastes in municipal landfills. The gas is a mixture of approximately 50 per cent methane, 50 per cent carbon dioxide and trace amounts of other gaseous compounds.
Environmental impacts
Landfill gas contributes to local environmental impacts, including odors, urban smog and stress on vegetation. It is a significant source of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. Methane from municipal landfills has been estimated to represent about one quarter of Canada's human-made methane emissions. Methane has a global warming potential 21 times that of carbon dioxide.
The capture and recovery of landfill gases represents an important opportunity to help reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, only 25 per cent of Canada's total landfill gas emissions are captured or recovered.
Conestoga-Rovers and Associates
Conestoga-Rovers and Associates (CRA) is a leading Canadian engineering and environmental services firm. Headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, it provides expertise on the design, construction and operation of landfill projects around the world. This includes the use of landfill gas collection and control systems.
In Canada, CRA has been instrumental in the design and development of a number of landfill gas collection and control systems, including sites in Toronto, Ottawa and Waterloo.
Suncor Energy
In 1997, it was the first major fuel retailer (under the brand Sunoco) to offer ethanol-enhanced gasolines in the Ontario market. Since 1998, it has funded renewable energy from wind turbines in Alberta. In January 2000, the company announced plans to invest $100 million in renewable and alternative energy projects over the next five years. Currently the company is pursuing opportunities in areas such as wind, coal bed methane, producing ethanol from biomass and producing energy from biomass and municipal solid waste.
This commitment to invest in alternative and renewable energy fits into the company's plan to address the risk of global climate change. The plan includes managing Suncor's own emissions as well as seeking ways to offset those emissions. Actions taken by Suncor to date include a pioneering emission trade with Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, a major reforestation pilot project in Australia, a forest conservation project in Belize, and supporting climate change education and training programs.
SOURCE: Suncor Energy Inc.
WEB SITE: http://www.suncor.com/
ST: Alberta
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