Council authorizes RFP for bioreactor pilot at water renewal facility

The Nampa City Council authorized the mayor and public works director to advertise a request for proposals (RFP) for a lease-to-own agreement for a pyrolysis bioreactor and associated equipment for a resource recovery demonstration at the Water Renewal Facility. Public works staff said the demonstration project is delayed while staff pursues an air permit from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality; initial modeling suggests the demonstration may not qualify for a streamlined demonstration permit and could require a longer permitting timeline (staff estimated up to 10 months). Council authorized staff to continue project planning by putting procurement language through legal and publicly advertising an RFP so the city can identify experienced vendors, equipment manufacturers and integration partners. Staff emphasized key RFP criteria: U.S.-manufactured equipment preferred, evidence of performance track record and documented emissions/gas outputs. Timber Creek, a local recycler, appeared and told council it is in preliminary conversations with staff about supplying feedstock (wood/green waste) and assisting with marketing end products; Timber Creek said pricing and moisture content details would require further technical information from the city once a technology vendor and process design were selected. Council members said they want the city and vendor to identify end uses and market outlets for byproducts (biochar, syngas, etc.) before committing to long-term procurement. Council approved the action to advertise the RFP by recorded vote.