Yolo County landfill to replace aging methane system with renewable gas plant
The Yolo County Central Landfill will build a new system that will convert methane from decomposing waste into renewable natural gas, the county announced Tuesday.
The new facility will replace the landfill’s existing gas-to-electricity system, which dates to the 1980s and costs more than $1 million annually to operate and repair, according to a staff report. The new facility is projected to generate more than $1 million a year in county revenue.
“With this project, the county will progress towards our goal of reducing climate emissions while also providing economic benefits for the community,” Board Chair Sheila Allen said in a news release.
Yolo County recently eliminated more than 120 jobs to address a $35 million budget deficit and needs to raise additional revenue to prevent further cuts.
Once completed, the facility will convert methane into renewable natural gas that will be injected into PG&E’s existing pipeline network, according to the news release.
The county signed a 20-year contract last month with Yolo RNG, a subsidiary of Indiana-based Redtail Renewables, to develop and operate the new facility. The project “is a flagship example of the possibility when a forward-thinking county government and an experienced renewable energy developer share a common vision,” Rob Morgan, chief commercial officer of Redtail Renewables, said in a press release.
Under the agreement, the county will transfer the gas rights for the landfill northeast of Davis, the existing gas-to-electricity facility and its assets to Yolo RNG. The contract takes effect Wednesday, and the facility is expected to be operational by summer 2028.
The project includes minimum revenue guarantees to support landfill operations. The company agreed to pay $500,000 within 30 days of signing the contract and another $500,000 annually — about $41,666 per month — once the facility is operational. The county also will receive a portion of the revenue from the renewable natural gas, bringing total annual county revenue from the project to more than $1 million, according to county estimates.
The facility will create four to six permanent jobs and about 60 temporary construction jobs, according to the staff report.
Demolition of the existing facility is scheduled to begin in August 2027 after plans and permits are approved and contractors are selected. The company will be responsible for permitting, constructing and operating the facility.
