Landfill plant gets $15 million grant

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WPRI/AP) - The company building a methane burning power plant at the landfill has received $15 million in federal stimulus funds from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Rhode Island LFG Genco announced Tuesday that the grant will help expand the plant that that generates electricity by burning the methane gas given off by the decomposing garbage.

The proposed 42-megawatt plant was supposed to cost $80 million. Stephen Galowitz, a managing director in charge of development and marketing, tells The Providence Journal the cost has risen to an estimated $100 million.

Construction on the plant is expected to begin this spring.