Utilities: county preparing RFP to explore landfill methane reuse for energy

An engineer for the utilities department told the Lake County Board that decomposition at the county's solid-waste landfill produces methane and that the county manages that gas with an extensive piping network and a flare system.

"Out at our solid waste landfill, due to decomposition, we produce a lot of methane gas there, and we manage that system with, extensive network of piping inside the landfill and and off to, a flare," the Engineer (Utilities Department) said. The engineer said staff earlier advertised a request for qualifications, shortlisted firms and are now preparing a request for proposals on how firms would propose to reuse the methane, including producing energy or injecting gas into natural-gas systems.

The engineer emphasized a range of technical approaches is possible and that county staff are reviewing options before returning with firm recommendations or contract proposals. No procurement award was made at the meeting; the board received the status report.

Why it matters: Reusing landfill methane can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and generate renewable energy or revenue, but it requires technical study, permitting and procurement steps.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the RFP process and return with proposals or recommendations when evaluation is complete.