Committee authorizes staff to issue RFP for renewable natural gas facility at Loudoun County landfill

The Finance, Government Operations and Economic Development Committee on March 11 recommended that the Board of Supervisors authorize staff to develop and issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a private vendor to build, own and operate a facility at the Loudoun County Landfill to convert captured landfill gas to renewable natural gas (RNG).

Mark Evaney, assistant director for General Services, summarized a feasibility study showing the landfill produces sufficient methane to support an RNG project and identified economic and environmental benefits, including market credits known as Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Evaney said Prince William County operates an RNG plant as a local example and that converting landfill gas to RNG would reduce the county's greenhouse-gas emissions from county facilities (the landfill is the largest county-facility source) while producing an energy product with market value.

Evaney described two implementation options: (1) procure a private vendor under a build-own-operate model so the county incurs no capital cost and negotiates a share of revenue and credits; or (2) the county builds and operates the facility, bearing capital and operating costs but retaining a larger share of revenue. He said the feasibility estimate in the study placed a potential capital cost for a county-built plant in the range of more than $20 million and projected a positive return over time. Evaney also noted the county would need a zoning special exception to site an RNG facility at the landfill.

Supervisors discussed timeline and market conditions. Supervisor Umstead asked whether changes in federal climate policy could eliminate incentives; staff said RINs and demand for RNG currently have market value and both administrations have used RINs, so the consultants believe the market is viable under an "all-of-the-above" energy approach. Supervisor Laturna asked about costs and returns; Evaney cited study estimates (a capital-cost estimate above $20 million and consultant projections that included environmental credit revenue as a large component of long-term value) and said staff would negotiate terms to preserve county benefit in any vendor arrangement.

Supervisor Sainz moved the recommendation that staff issue an RFP for a build-own-operate vendor to convert landfill gas to RNG; the motion was seconded and the committee voted in favor. Staff indicated they expect to issue an RFP in early fiscal year 2026, that the site will require a special exception and that a project could take several years to reach construction and operation depending on permitting and negotiation.

Votes at a glance: earlier in the meeting the committee approved its consent agenda (moved by Chair Randell, seconded by Supervisor Sainz; vote recorded 4–0–1 with Supervisor Letourneau off the dais). Later, the committee approved the landfill-RNG RFP recommendation (motion moved by Supervisor Sainz and seconded; committee vote recorded as in favor; transcript does not include a numerical tally for that motion).

Why this matters: Capturing landfill methane and converting it to RNG can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and produce an energy product with market value; implementation choices will determine whether the county assumes capital cost and operations or secures revenue share under a vendor-built model.