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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: April 12, 2007 <br />Action Agend~~ <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Landfill Gas Opportunities Update <br />DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Gayle Wilson, 968-2885 <br />April 2007 Landfill Gas Recovery <br />Executive Summary <br />PURPOSE: To receive information regarding the potential use of landfill gas as a supplemental <br />energy source for public facilities in the vicinity of Eubanks Road and for the Carolina North <br />project. <br />BACKGROUND: Following discussion of the potential use of landfill gas at the March 2006 <br />Assembly of Governments meeting, County staff undertook atwo-pronged analysis of the <br />feasibility of tapping methane gas produced by decomposition at the Orange County Landfill as <br />a supplementary energy source. The County's consulting engineer, Olver, Inc. produced an <br />interim report that was presented to the Board at an October 24, 2006 work session. The report <br />addressed issues related to 1) potential use of landfill gas to help power County and school <br />facilities in the vicinity of Eubanks Road; and 2) potential use of landfill gas as a "bridge" energy <br />source for future development at the Carolina North project by the University of North Carolina <br />at Chapel Hill. <br />Based on further review and discussion with the University, Olver has now completed a report <br />on its findings, and a copy of the executive summary of this report is attached. The report's <br />conclusions and recommendations are detailed on pages 6 and 7 of the executive summary <br />(pages 8 and 9 of this agenda abstract package). <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the Board receiving <br />information regarding the potential use of landfill gas as a supplemental energy source for <br />public facilities in the vicinity of Eubanks Road and for the Carolina North project. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the information <br />regarding the potential use of landfill gas as a supplemental energy source for public facilities in <br />the vicinity of Eubanks Road and for the Carolina North project and direct staff to proceed with <br />additional analysis and continue discussions regarding the Carolina North Project. <br />