Six months after breaking ground on the $9 million facility, DeKalb County last week began operating a renewable energy facility at its Seminole Road Landfil.

The facility makes DeKalb the first county in the country to convert landfill gas into compressed natural gas for fuel. The center is expected to save DeKalb up to $3 million in fuel costs over the next eight years by reducing the need for diesel and gasoline.

DeKalb plans to convert 70 trash trucks in the next year to run on the compressed natural gas produced in the facility. It hopes to convert the entire 306-vehicle fleet in sanitation in the next eight years.

The county used federal stimulus dollars to help build the facility and is using Clean Cities Atlanta money for the vehicle conversion.

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In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com