The Yolo County Central Landfill is trading in its aging gas-to-electric engines for a new renewable natural gas plant under a long-term agreement with Yolo RNG, an affiliate of Redtail Renewables. County officials say the project will convert methane from decomposing trash into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas, with the deal projected to bring more than $1 million a year into county coffers. The contract is scheduled to take effect Wednesday, July 1, and the county expects the new facility to be up and running by summer 2028.
CEQA sign-off clears path
The Board of Supervisors adopted an addendum to the landfill’s 2021 environmental review on May 26, concluding the RNG plan does not create new significant environmental effects, according to the State CEQA Clearinghouse. The filing places the Yolo County Central Landfill near the intersection of County Roads 28H and 104, roughly two miles northeast of Davis, and notes the project’s initial job numbers.
Why the county is switching
County procurement materials say the existing gas-to-electric plant, with engines added over several decades from the 1980s through 2006, has grown increasingly expensive to keep alive, with repairs and upkeep topping more than $1 million a year. The county’s Yolo County request for proposals also notes that PG&E completed a preliminary study and found enough capacity in its high-pressure line to accept RNG from the landfill, clearing a key technical hurdle for getting the gas into the pipeline system.
Who will run it
Yolo RNG, which the county identified as a subsidiary of Indiana-based Redtail Renewables, will develop and operate the plant under a 20-year contract, the county announced. Redtail Renewables outlines similar landfill RNG projects on its site and lists its leadership team and project pipeline, positioning the company to handle permitting, construction and long-term operations in Yolo County.
Money and jobs in a tight budget year
Under the deal, the developer agreed to pay $500,000 within 30 days of signing and $500,000 annually once the facility is commissioned. County estimates say those minimums, plus a revenue share, are expected to push annual county receipts above $1 million. Staff figures put the project’s employment impact at about 60 temporary construction jobs and four to six permanent positions. The timing is not accidental, arriving as the county has reduced headcount this year to tackle a roughly $35 million budget shortfall. “With this project, the county will progress towards our goal of reducing climate emissions while also providing economic benefits for the community,” Board Chair Sheila Allen said in a county news release, as reported by The Sacramento Bee.
What to watch next
Under the county’s RFP and draft agreement, the developer is responsible for securing permits, utility interconnect agreements and for building and operating the plant, while the county will retain certain on-site infrastructure such as the wellfield blower and flare. The RFP also spells out payment timing, commissioning requirements and a decommissioning plan for the existing energy plant. From here, the construction timeline will hinge on how quickly permits are secured, contractors are selected and equipment makes it to the landfill.
