Lincoln County launches HDR feasibility study for biomass and waste-to-energy options

Zack Mason, of HDR Engineering, opened the afternoon work session and said HDR will lead a county feasibility study into a biomass or combined municipal solid-waste/biomass facility for Lincoln County: “Zack Mason, HDR engineering. Uh we’re heading the project up for you guys.”

HDR told commissioners the study will include site evaluations, biomass availability analyses and baseline flow work. Mason said the team is aiming for an engineering and feasibility package by the end of September and will complete initial site-evaluation work and data collection by the end of March. The timeline would allow the county to follow with an RFQ or RFP, depending on study results.

Mason said the team is targeting a preliminary minimum capacity in the ballpark of 100 tons per day to make operations viable: “I think we’re trying to target something that does at least 100 tons a day.” Commissioners and HDR staff noted that seasonal pauses in logging will require stockpiles and logistics planning to keep throughput steady.

The kickoff identified immediate action items: schedule plant and landfill tours (including a Stoltz facility tour in Kalispell), gather waste-haul data from Eureka transfer operations (county staff identified Kathy Hooper as the contact), and compile site maps and utility availability information. HDR pledged to circulate meeting notes, site maps and a list of follow-up requests to the county and partner agencies.

The meeting closed with commissioners agreeing to monthly progress updates and further coordination on field visits and data collection.