Using Waste, Swedish City Cuts Fossil Fuel Use

10 years ago, the city of Kristianstad, Sweden (population 80,000) set a goal of eliminating fossil fuels from its energy needs. Elizabeth Rosenthal reports that they've essentially reached that goal, with oil, natural gas and coal replaced by burning waste products:

"A hulking 10-year-old plant on the outskirts of Kristianstad uses a biological process to transform the detritus into biogas, a form of methane. That gas is burned to create heat and electricity, or is refined as a fuel for cars.

Once the city fathers got into the habit of harnessing power locally, they saw fuel everywhere: Kristianstad also burns gas emanating from an old landfill and sewage ponds, as well as wood waste from flooring factories and tree prunings."

Thanks to Wana Azam