Meadowlark Renewables seeks six-month extension as landfill RNG project advances permitting and easements

Norman Herrera of Spark Renewables, speaking for Meadowlark Renewables, briefed the Reno County Commission on July 22 about progress on a project to convert landfill methane into renewable natural gas.

Herrera said Meadowlark has submitted the plant air permit to the state (filed July 13) and expects iterative review taking three to four months. He reported one easement had been recorded at the courthouse and said the team is working on a second easement while awaiting utility feedback. Herrera described nine concurrent work streams—warehouse and plant permitting, pipeline crossing agreements, state nondisturbance permits, well‑field optimization and title work—and asked the commission to approve a three‑part amendment to the gas‑rights agreement that would include: (1) a six‑month extension of conditions precedent (moving the next deadline from the August meeting to the following February), (2) a definition that classifies tenant‑funded collection system improvements as project capital (making them eligible for project incentives), and (3) a revised responsibility matrix that places financial responsibility for certain well‑field improvements with the tenant while operations and approval rights remain with the county.

“We're in a good place since we signed,” Herrera said. “We started our permitting. We've evaluated the well field. We've negotiated one of the two easements that we need … and now we're just asking for this extra, 6 months of time to do activities that are all getting us to the goal of starting.”

Commissioners asked how responsibility for well‑field repairs and new areas would be handled; Herrera said Meadowlark would pay for repairs and improvements they propose, while the county would retain operational control and approval rights. A commissioner noted federal rules require flaring for compliance and said capturing the gas for beneficial use instead of flaring would provide a community benefit. Commissioners were advised that construction timing will consider local farming seasons and that several permitting elements and crossings remain to be completed before the project advances to agreement amendment on the August agenda.

No final approval or vote to amend the agreement occurred on July 22; holders said they planned to return to the commission on August 12 with a proposed amendment for consideration.