Plans approved for RNG plant at California landfill

Plans to build a renewable natural gas (RNG) processing plant and underground pipeline at the Keller Canyon Landfill in Pittsburg, California, have been approved by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, reports the East Bay Times.

Massachusetts-based Ameresco—the renewable energy company who will be overseeing the project—said the new facility would reuse excess gas from a power plant at the landfill. That excess gas is currently being destroyed in a nearby enclosed flare facility.

“It would significantly increase the usage of landfill gas and energy that is now destroyed,” county senior planner Stan Muraoka told the board.

Jim Bier, Ameresco senior project developer, said gas emissions at the landfill are being wasted and pollute the sky.

“So, what Ameresco is going to do is take that wasted energy and process it into renewable natural gas that can be used to displace fossil fuels in vehicles,” he said. “So, not only is there a tremendous financial benefit to the county from this project, but the environmental benefits should not be overlooked as well.”

Renewable natural gas from the new 48,000-square-foot processing facility would then be conveyed through a 2.85-mile pipeline to a PG&E natural gas transmission line east of the landfill.

As part of the deal, the East Bay Times reports Amerseco must sign a community benefit agreement, according to Supervisor Federal Glover, whose district includes the landfill. That agreement will entail giving the county $50,000 a year to distribute to the community.

Because the project area is part of the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy,  Ameresco must work with the nonprofit to resolve any biological issues stemming from the pipeline, Muraoka noted.