November 2003

SWANA Promotes the Use of Landfill Gas Tax Credits

Washington, DC— As part of a summit on the need for a comprehensive energy plan, SWANA member Thomas Hadden met recently with Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card to explain the reasons why the United States Congress should adopt Landfill Gas (LFG) Tax Credits as part of the Energy Bill that is currently in conference committee.

Hadden, Executive Director of the Metro Waste Authority in Iowa, and a member of SWANA’s Landfill Gas Advocacy Committee, presented his arguments on behalf of the over 7,000 members of the association.  The passage of landfill gas tax credits is one of SWANA’s major legislation priorities in this session of Congress and the opportunity to make the case directly to Bush Administration officials brings this grassroots effort seemingly one step closer to its goal.

Among the points that Hadden raised at the briefing were:
•The usefulness of landfill gas as a “direct use” fuel or as a replacement for natural gas
•The benefit gained from the development of 600 additional LFG sites nationwide that would come on line if the LFG tax credit in the House Energy bill is passed—enough energy to power over 1 million homes.

“Landfill gas tax credits are not only important to improving solid waste management practices but are crucial to our Nation’s energy security as they will reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said John Skinner, SWANA’s Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer.