WINTERSVILLE - Plans for a methane gas recovery power plant and educational facility at the Apex Landfill near Amsterdam are moving forward.

Ed Looman, executive director of Progress Alliance, discussed the plans by Environmental Logistics Services during his remarks at the economic development agency's Best of Jefferson County dinner at St. Florian Hall Tuesday evening.

The company has been discussing plans for the power plant, which would produce enough electricity to power 16,500 homes, officials said.

"Reducing greenhouse gas emissions while creating renewable energy power to decrease dependence on foreign oil are two goals achieved by this innovative project," said Ross Patten, chairman of the board of ELS.

The power plant would add to the permanent employment roll at Apex, currently staffed with 75 full-time jobs.

Patten noted design and construction will add more regional jobs.

The power plant, which is near the contract award stage, will extract and consolidate the methane and carbon dioxide produced by decomposition of trash in the landfill. The gas would power engines to spin electric generators. Apex officials say the plant would eliminate 16,000 tons of methane from the atmosphere, with the equivalent of greenhouse gases in carbon captured by a 112,000-acre forest.

ELS has partnered with Edison Local School District, Progress Alliance and the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District to construct an environmental classroom at the facility.

"Attracting green industry by building a smart work force will help our region grow and prosper, so I applaud Apex Landfill management's commitment to invest in knowledge-based outreach programs to teach people about the environment," Looman said.

The classroom will allow year-round educational outreach to build on what the children will be learning in school in a specially targeted curriculum. Field trips based on environmental and natural resources protection will help increase the students' knowledge with age-appropriate programs planned for the landfill site.

Habitat restoration programs will be part of the educational curriculum with wetland restoration projects on the landfill site and at off-site locations, as well as educational efforts geared to bird and wildlife ecosystem creation and restoration.

David Quattrochi, interim superintendent at Edison, said, "Apex Landfill has been a great supporter of all our schools over the last year and we look forward to partnering with them on this educational center to give our students a leg up in the new economy and to create pathways to their future employment opportunities."

(Giannamore can be contacted at pgiannamore@heraldstaronline.com.)