The Columbia Shuswap Regional District made a winning appearance at this year’s Union of British Columbia Municipalities conference.
CSRD board chair Dave Raven accepted the Climate Action Award for an innovative project that captures methane from the completed portion of the Salmon Arm landfill. This is the second recognition for the regional district’s gas diversion project spearheaded by Darcy Mooney, CSRD deputy manager Environment and Engineering Services.
The regional district earned national recognition in the form of a Sustainable Communities Award from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities last year.
Preventing methane from being released into the atmosphere, not only ensures better air quality, capturing it will generate enough natural gas to provide heat and hot water to as many as 500 area homes through a Terasen Gas pipeline, says Mooney.
He says diversion of upgraded landfill gas should be underway within four weeks.
At the close of 2011, CSRD had removed the equivalent of 6,907 tonnes of carbon dioxide, earning the regional district an equal number of carbon credits.
“Our forecasts are showing we’re on track for 9,000 in 2012,” he said.