A new proposal planned for Milwaukee would convert trash to energy, creating 250 construction jobs and 45 full-time jobs. The proposal, named Project Apollo, would cost parent company Alliance Federated Energy $225 million to develop, with the first phase expected to be running by 2013.The plant would use technology developed by Westinghouse Plasma Corporation to convert the solid waste at high heat into a synthetic gas, or syngas, which could be used as a fuel to generate power. The first phase of the proposed facility is expected to process approximately 1,200 tons of municipal and industrial waste per day, which would generate 25 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power roughly 20,000 typical homes. Following the development of the first phase, an expected second phase of development would generate another 25 megawatts of power. While the final location of the project hasn’t been announced, the project will be located in Milwaukee
Gov. Jim Doyle, who has been pushing development of more renewable energy in the state, praised the announcement of the Apollo Project:
“We are pleased that AFE has selected Wisconsin for their first renewable energy project,” Doyle said in a statement. “This technology has real potential to help us address the growing need for clean renewable power. Project Apollo will create new clean energy jobs in our state, reduce the need for continued landfilling of our wastes, and reduce greenhouse gases.”
I’ve always maintained that the development of renewable energy technology could be a boon for Wisconsin, creating an untold number of “green collar” jobs, and the Apollo Project is proof positive that renewable energy can be good for the environment and good for the economy.
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