A Winnipeg city committee votes Tuesday on a plan that could see power generated from greenhouse gases captured at the city's Brady Road landfill.

Landfill gas, which is produced at the dump when garbage decomposes in the absence of oxygen, is about 50 per cent methane, a key greenhouse gas. The Brady Road landfill is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas in Manitoba, city officials say.

By capturing landfill gases, the city could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 97,000 tonnes — more greenhouse gases than all other city operations combined, according to a city report.

The gas could simply be burned off to reduce its harmful effects — at a cost of $8.9 million, plus $200,000 per year in operating costs — or the gas could be collected and sold for use in modified boilers for heating, or used as fuel for electricity generation.

Curt Hull, project manager for the Climate Change Connection, says other cities are already using garbage as an energy source.

"Ottawa generates electricity from their landfill, and I believe they generate something like five megawatts from that site," he said. "In comparison, the Pine Falls hydro plant generates 88 megawatts."

The administration will ask councillors on the city's standing policy committee on infrastructure renewal and public works Tuesday for $150,000 for environmental approvals, reviews and finalizing a business case for the project.