5.5. ERMUSR 11-13-2007~j
Elk River -~
Municipal Utilities
13069 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430
Elk River, MN 55330-0430
November 5, 2007
To: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission
Jerry Takle
Jerry Gumphrey
Jim Tralle
From: Bryan Adams
Subject: LFG Expansion Update
Phone: 763.441.2020
Fax: 763.441.8099
The last couple of commission meetings we have discussed the expansion of the LFG electric
generation facility. Waste Management has decided to allow us to do the expansion with the
contraction arrangements similar to the existing agreements. Elk River Landfill is now in the process
of securing the necessary permits to expand the landfill to the south. The preliminary schedule is as
follows.
Secure necessary permits for landfill expansion
Now to June 2008
(Jerry Gumphrey will update commission on City council's feelings
on Landfill expansion)
Secure necessary air permits to expand LFG electric generation facility June 2008 to June 2009
Negotiate LFG generation facility agreements June 2008-January 2009
Purchase and place order for engine/generator January 2009
LFG generation facility construction July 2009-January 2010
LFG generation facility complete February 2010
On another LFG issue, we continue to be experiencing engine head maintenance problems due to
high hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels in the landfill gas from 4-6 wells. We are now changing heads at
an approximate 4 month interval instead of a 12 month interval at a cost of approximately
$40,000/change. We will be doing a major overhaul on the older 3 engines starting in February 2008.
To solve the H2S issue, we were looking at re-piping the 4-6 wells to the existing flair thus bypassing
the LFG generating facility. The estimated cost is $486,000. The only reasonable way to pay for this
is to build this cost into the next plant expansion in 2009-2010 timeframe mentioned above. I am not
sure if we should delay it this long. Another possibility is to find a H2S removal system and hope
Sherburne County will fund the cost of the equipment with landfill abatement money.
Staff will keep you posted on this issue.