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School board votes to defer decision on pipeline to transport landfill gas
Summary
The Acadia Parish School Board agreed to defer action on a proposal by Renewable Natural Gas Partners LLC to build a small-diameter pipeline that would cross school board property to carry gas from the parish landfill pending landowner permissions and valuation details.
The Acadia Parish School Board voted Wednesday to defer consideration of a proposal from Renewable Natural Gas Partners LLC to construct a pipeline across school board property to carry landfill gas to a nearby transmission line.
Supporters said the project would convert landfill gas into a marketable renewable fuel and route profits back into parish projects, but board members moved to postpone the measure until outstanding permissions and valuation details are resolved.
Gerald Russo, who identified himself as working for HPS Oil and Gas Properties of Lafayette and assisting Renewable Natural Gas Partners, described the proposal and the route that would cross the southern portion of school property. He said the company reduced its planned pipe size during recent meetings: "They reduced the size of the line to a 4 inch line. It doesn't need to be 80 inches. So, there's very, very, very low volume gas, 100 PSI moving through the line." Russo said the company estimated a flow of about "440 standard cubic feet of gas per minute" and described a surface footprint "a 30 foot by 50 foot site" with a 25-foot access road, electrical power to the site and blending/compression equipment on a site roughly 1,000 feet off the parish road.
Board members asked for more detail about landowner permissions and the economic terms. A motion to consider the proposal was made and, after discussion, the board voted to defer further action. The motion to defer was moved by Mr. Higginbotham and seconded by Mr. Quibido; the motion carried on a voice vote.
Board staff and the presenter said local vendors would be given preference in bidding if the project proceeds and that some up-front costs are substantial for constructing gas-capture and blending facilities. Russo said the landfill arrangement is long-term and that blending would require purchasing gas from the transmission line to raise volumes for sale.
The board did not authorize construction and asked staff to return with documentation on required property permissions, the company offer terms and any required easements or ancillary services.
The item will return to a future meeting after staff compiles requested materials and resolves outstanding private-property permissions.
