Milliken Starts Second Methane Conversion Project

Spartanburg, SC, April 22, 2008 – Milliken & Company has launched its second partnership to harvest methane as an alternative energy source.

 “Milliken is constantly seeking ways to conserve energy and to reduce our footprint,” said Richard Dillard, director of public affairs for Milliken.

“With the success of our methane program in LaGrange, Georgia, Spartanburg County immediately realized the benefit of this proposal to the local government, our community, Milliken, and ultimately the Earth.”

Spartanburg County will be responsible for construction and operation of an enhanced methane extraction system at the Wellford Landfill and a gas pipeline from the landfill to Milliken’s Dewey plant near Inman, S.C. The landfill gas containing the fuel methane, a naturally generated by-product of landfill decomposition, will be purchased from the county.

“The project will produce financial benefits for both parties and, perhaps most importantly, it will produce significant environmental benefits and help us to reach our goals for improving local air quality,” said County Administrator Glenn Breed.

Milliken launched an Energy Conservation Initiative in 2007 aimed at workforce education, LEED certification, increased efficiency and reduced consumption. Milliken Floor Covering currently harvests more than 80 percent of the methane gas from the LaGrange landfill as a replacement for natural gas in carpet manufacturing.