County staff outline options for State Street landfill: methane capture, possible solar and debris staging

County environmental services staff updated the Board of Commissioners March 3 on future uses of the closed State Street landfill, a roughly 160‑acre site in northeast Douglas County.

The county currently operates a landfill‑gas collection system (roughly 40 wells) that sends gas to a third‑party processor under a contract that runs through 2030 with possible extensions. Kolm, the environmental services director, said the gas system is aging and that the county must negotiate a renewed solid‑waste permit with the state Department of Water, Energy and Environment. He advised commissioners the condition of the collection infrastructure and the terms of a new permit will be central to decisions about whether to extend the third‑party contract and what alternative uses are practical.

Kolm said prior feasibility work examined solar arrays on portions of the site and that the county has also discussed using a flat southeast corner of the property as a temporary storm‑debris staging area. The landfill gas currently is cleaned and delivered into the municipal pipeline for beneficial use; staff said methane capture and federal greenhouse‑gas reporting obligations are part of the permitting context. No formal decisions were requested on March 3; the director said he will return with procurement and regulatory analysis and recommended vetting zoning, conditional uses and potential mitigation for neighboring properties before moving forward.

Commissioners asked about prior neighbor complaints and noise mitigation around the gas collection facility and whether potential new uses would create similar impacts; staff said they were not aware of ongoing complaints and would evaluate impacts as part of any proposal.