R Board updates landfill operations, budget and solar RFP

The R Board told the Stafford County Board of Supervisors at its May 15 work session that landfill operations are continuing and that the board has approved an RFP to pursue solar energy on closed landfill property.

"This cell is approximately 13 acres in size, and, cost $8,600,000 estimated, so far," Phil Hathcock, an R Board representative, said, describing the new cell and its roughly four-year expected life based on current waste acceptance rates. Hathcock said the R Board is seeing increasing municipal solid waste volumes and currently receives about 830 tons of waste and 24 tons of recyclables per day.

The R Board's FY25 budget was approved earlier the same day at $12,728,523, Hathcock said, including a transfer of roughly $2.6 million from cash reserves to fund the new cell. The board's cash-and-investment balance was described as about $21 million, with roughly $9 million earmarked for closure and post-closure activities "if the landfill had to close suddenly," Hathcock said.

The R Board also voted to release an RFP for a solar energy system to place panels on closed portions of the county landfill and the City of Fredericksburg's closed landfill. Hathcock described the project as a revenue-generating use for land that cannot easily be repurposed for other development; a board member clarified that both Stafford County and the City of Fredericksburg will have to execute lease agreements if proposals move forward.

Board members asked whether existing landfill energy generation (a Dominion Power-linked methanepower plant operated by Ameresco) also generates revenue; Hathcock said it does but that revenue is not as high as hoped and the Ameresco contract runs through 2026. Several supervisors praised Hathcock's management and staffing at the facility.

Next steps: the RFP will be finalized and released after procurement and attorney review; any lease or revenue-sharing agreement with the city will return to the board for action.