From Anne about Methane Gas and Energy

"I've been impressed with Johnson's ads about taking methane from a land-fill and using it to power a plant that makes your cleaning products. I've also read the sad results of the methane buildup from the mine in West Virginia. So, could some company like Johnson come in and use the methane from that mine for a factory? Using the methane instead of dissipating it seems better for the environment, and this proposed plant could employ the people in that area. – Anne"

Hi Anne, thanks for your note. We agree, the mine incident in West Virginia was very sad. Your question about using methane from a mine to power a factory is an interesting one. The methane we use in our cogeneration process comes from a landfill, as you know. Whether the methane could come from other sources such as a mine isn’t something we’ve explored, but it may be a possibility. We don’t have a factory near a mine at this time, so it’s not something that we would likely evaluate. But if you are passionate about the possibility, we’d encourage you to talk with business leaders near mines, as well as environmental groups, to raise the idea. If there’s one thing we’ve learned in our environmental efforts over the years, it’s that generating dialogue is an important and helpful beginning.

Thanks again for writing and for your interest; we wish you luck as you explore this!