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County approves sole-source procurement and contract with Parnell Biogas for enclosed landfill flare
Summary
Deschutes County approved a resolution and contract to procure an enclosed landfill flare and startup services from Parnell Biogas, citing new state emissions-monitoring requirements and potential component reuse to lower cost.
Deschutes County commissioners approved a sole-source procurement and contract with Parnell Biogas Incorporated to supply an enclosed landfill gas flare and start-up services.
Background and reason: Tim Brownell, director of the Solid Waste Department, told the board that new regulatory requirements enacted in 2021 (referenced in the meeting as OAR 340-239 and associated with Senate Bill 239) require testing of landfill surface emissions and monitoring of discharges from destroyed gas. Because the county’s existing open flare does not allow the required source testing, the county must install an enclosed flare that enables monitoring to meet the county’s Title V operating permit issued in 2023.
Cost and procurement rationale: Brownell said the county expects to lower the price by reusing components from a Parnell flare installed about eight years ago. He estimated the new enclosed flare would cost roughly $428,000 after reuse of components — a reduction from more than $750,000 — saving an estimated $175,000 to $325,000 compared with procuring all-new components. Brownell said the new enclosed flare is expected to operate only a small percentage of the time (he estimated up to 5%), serving mainly as a compliance device and as backup to an ongoing methane-to-renewable-natural-gas project expected online later in 2025 or early 2026.
Environmental and operational details: The county will continue quarterly monitoring for methane and must also test emissions such as siloxanes and hydrogen sulfide produced by burning landfill gas. Brownell said the enclosed flare will make it possible to conduct source testing and demonstrate regulatory compliance. The county also noted coordination with the renewable natural gas project, which will recover and clean landfill gas for injection to a pipeline; the county flare will be a backup and for intermittent use.
Board action: The board approved Resolution 2025-003 supporting the sole-source finding and voted to execute contract document 2024-950 with Parnell Biogas. Commissioners voted in favor and the motions carried.
Next steps: The department will proceed with procurement and startup services. Brownell said monitoring, testing and permitting work are part of the implementation; the county noted no outstanding appeal period for the procurement.
Context: Brownell described this as a regulatory-driven capital expense required by changes in state law and county permit requirements; the county expects the flare to be needed for decades as landfill decomposition continues for 30–50 years after closure.
