Resident pitches countywide landfill methane-to-energy 'Manhattan Project'

At public comment, Jeff Weaver of San Juan Capistrano urged the Orange County Board of Supervisors to direct county waste authorities to pursue an expanded methane‑capture program across county landfills and convert captured gas into electricity.

Weaver said existing county plans capture only a minimum amount of landfill methane and proposed a broader program that would maximize capture from dozens of active and abandoned sites. He described a system that would use steam‑driven generation rather than internal‑combustion engines and argued the scale of methane available could produce “a massive amount of electricity” and revenue for local governments. Weaver asked the board to include the proposal in the county’s climate action plan and to direct Orange County Waste & Recycling to pursue implementation.

The speaker cited examples of current landfill flaring rates and described both simple capture methods (tarps to trap gas) and more elaborate infrastructure. He said he had discussed the idea with county staff, including air quality officials, and framed the proposal as feasible though complex. The Board did not take action on the proposal during the meeting; it was delivered during the public‑comment period, and Weaver asked the board to consider adding the concept to planning documents.

The presentation did not include an estimated project budget, engineering study, or a staff response at the meeting. Weaver asked the board to direct staff to evaluate whether landfill methane‑to‑energy could be incorporated into the climate action plan and county capital planning.