The regional landfill in Rodman is demonstrating a resourceful use of its waste materials — making electricity.

The Development Authority of the North Country, which runs the landfill, took time Thursday to show local officials and other visitors the new power plant at the facility that produces electricity from methane gas.

It is interesting and encouraging that the authority is looking at other possible uses for the energy generated at the new power plant.

Heat and exhaust from the power operation could yield algae for the creation of biodiesel and pellets. The end result could be unleaded gas, diesel or jet fuel; the pellets can be used for heating.

Another intriguing possibility is to build a greenhouse for growing produce. The builder and operator of the Rodman methane plant, Innovative Energy Systems Inc., Oakfield, oversees a large greenhouse in Niagara County that is very successful. Heat from the Rodman plant could support a greenhouse as large as 15 acres.

By converting methane into electricity, the plant is about 30 percent efficient in using its waste materials. By adopting one of the other projects, the plant could be 95 percent efficient.

The power plant is now generating about 4.8 megawatts of electricity, with the possibility of doing more in the future. Rather than releasing methane gas into the air, the plant is using it to generate energy and revenue.

This sort of conservation and use of renewable energy resources are vital to America's future.

Also, the project provides additional revenue to the authority which should be used to reduce or stabilize the amount charged to dispose of the region's trash. This new money could help everyone in the north country as long as it is used to keep the tipping fees low.