More than a year after BMW Manufacturing Co. announced plans to convert landfill gas to electricity, officials say the project has exceeded expectations.

It's good news for similar projects being considered throughout the state. A project in Lee County should begin operation in November and another in Anderson should be running by next spring.

Carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by 34,000 tons in the last nine months of 2003 because the plant used less natural gas and electricity and because the methane gas emissions from the landfill were captured.

BMW is on target to eliminate annually the equivalent of emissions from more than 60,000 cars.

"We think we're on target for about 55,000 tons, as long as we operate this," said Duncan Seaman, BMW facilities and energy manager.

In addition to reducing emissions, BMW saves about $1 million a year in energy costs.

"The reality of the project has definitely exceeded our expectations," Seaman said.

The methane gas generated by the decaying waste is shipped about 10 miles to the plant from the landfill. The energy is used in various processes including the paint shop, assembly lines and body lines, and to heat and cool the facility.

Other officials are taking notice, too.

"I had an international engineer come by my office the other day and tell me the BMW-Palmetto project had raised the awareness of landfill gas to energy all over the world," said Sonny Dubose, program manager for the state Office of Energy.

The original expectation was the gas would allow the plant to run two of its four turbines full time.

"The reality has been very good quality landfill gas," Seaman said. "The equipment has run very well. We have had very high availability. We've been able to operate - more than we expected - all four turbines, except for maintenance."

(Agencies)