Reno County approves agreement with Meadowlark to capture landfill gas for renewable natural gas

Reno County commissioners unanimously approved an agreement with Meadowlark to capture methane and other recoverable gases from the county landfill and route processed fuel to the regional pipeline system.

The agreement allows Meadowlark to design, permit, construct and operate an on-site renewable natural gas plant and related gathering pipelines on county property. County staff and Meadowlark representatives said the company will finance the project and be responsible for permitting and day-to-day operation; the county retains final approval of any plant or well-field design and requires financial security to cover site remediation if Meadowlark abandons the project.

County staff opened the agenda item by describing the project as novel for Reno County and said the county has negotiated protections into the final agreement. County staff member Patrick said the project is "a new thing. New things are always scary," and added that staff had tried to address risks through contract language and oversight provisions.

Meadowlark and its engineering contractor provided technical details. John Bolte, an engineer with Small Lehi Engineering, said the…