The invention includes a method and system for generating electricity using a drive for the electrical generator that is powered by an engine that uses high pressure hot gases produced by combustion of a fuel and an oxygen bearing gas, using at least a portion of the electricity generated to power manufacturing plant equipment and using the waste hot exhaust gases from the heat engine, such as a gas turbine, with or without a heat exchanger, in an oven in which the mat is carried through continuously on a belt, drum or with other conventional means to dry the wet fibrous mats. Optionally the fibrous mats can contain a binder and the hot waste gases can be optionally used to cure a binder.