SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) -- Automaker BMW is updating its system for reclaiming methane gas from a nearby landfill to produce energy used by its South Carolina manufacturing plant.
BMW officials said Wednesday they are replacing four turbines at the Spartanburg facility with two larger, more efficient ones. Officials say the move will save the manufacturer up to $2 million annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 92,000 tons a year.
Turbines already in place generate about 14 percent of electricity used by the plant. The company says the new system will increase that number to almost 30 percent of the plant's electricity needs.
BMW's original project to claim methane gas from the Palmetto Landfill began in early 2003.