County, WAGA Energy advance plan to turn landfill gas into renewable natural gas; public hearing planned

Wicomico County officials and WAGA Energy representatives presented details Oct. 7 on a proposed project to upgrade landfill gas to pipeline‑quality renewable natural gas (RNG) at the county solid‑waste facility and said they plan a public hearing and formal agreements in coming weeks.

Under the proposal WAGA would install a modular cryogenic upgrade system (“WAGA box”) on roughly half an acre at the county landfill. The system first removes volatile organic compounds and hydrogen sulfide, then separates carbon dioxide via membranes and uses cryogenic distillation to recover high‑purity methane for injection into the local gas utility pipeline. Company representatives said the modular design has been deployed in multiple international projects and a first U.S. installation began operation in 2024.

County environmental services director Adam Corey and Solid Waste superintendent Jessica Hunter said the project would help the county meet stricter air‑emissions requirements and provide new revenue streams. The parties described three potential revenue streams for the county: a one‑time share of an investment tax credit (WAGA proposes to share a portion of the tax‑credit monetization with the county), ongoing royalty payments from RNG sales and a land lease or gas‑rights payment. County staff said a pro‑forma estimate shows potential revenues in the millions over a 20‑year project life and that the project could result in roughly $4 million of local construction contracts. WAGA said it typically finances the facility and then refinances with long‑term arrangements once permits, gas interconnection and offtake contracts are secured.

WAGA representatives explained the technology and said the output would be sold into the regional pipeline; the environmental attributes of RNG are typically purchased separately by fuel suppliers or other obligated purchasers nationwide. County engineers and consultants have evaluated the landfill well field and identified a need to upgrade collection wells to maximize gas capture; the county expects to seek grant funding to support those well‑field upgrades.

County staff said they will bring a gas‑rights agreement, land lease and a sole‑source resolution for the council’s consideration in a public‑hearing process in coming weeks, and that permitting, fabrication and construction would follow. Officials said they expect permitting and interconnection work to run concurrently with engineering and fabrication so construction could proceed quickly after approvals. If the project moves forward, officials estimated roughly a two‑year timeline from agreement to commissioning.

Why it matters: The RNG project promises potentially larger recurring revenues than the county’s existing landfill gas‑to‑energy arrangement and could help the county reduce methane emissions from the landfill. Council members asked for details on contracts, timelines, and the relationship to existing landfill gas arrangements; staff said the current energy arrangement would be transitioned in a planned sequence and that state environmental and grant agencies have been engaged.