Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, unveiled plans to introduce legislation to create a $250 million competitive grant program that would provide up to $5 million to individual projects.

His Rubbish to Renewables Act of 2009 would require that the U.S. Department of Energy oversee the funding program.

"One man´s trash can be another man´s source of clean energy," Brown said.

Brown spoke at an existing landfill gas project at the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio on May 28 near Columbus to unveil his idea.

Contact Waste & Recycling News senior reporter Jim Johnson at 937-964-1289 or jpjohnson@crain.com