Ameresco deal runs into snag
By Dan Bain, KPIC NewsROSEBURG, Ore. -- County commissioners have extended a term sheet with a company that wants to harness the methane gas from the landfill and produce electricity, but they have run into a hang-up before they can actually sign a contract with the company. MultimediaAmeresco wants to build a power producing plant that would generate at least a megawatt of power, that could be sold to power companies on the grid. They want to make sure that if they invest $3.5 million, the gas is going to be there. The county is talking about trying to divert some of the trash away from this landfill so the site can last longer, and that has Ameresco nervous that it might not produce enough gas. Jim Bier from Ameresco told commissioners Wednesday, "As far as getting to the point on diverting trash, it's not something that Ameresco is excited about. We want to make sure there is enough gas at that landfill to support our minimum plant size, which is one megawatt. So, somehow we need to incorporate an amendment or something to the agreement that says the county will not make any actions that will inhibit our initial investment." Bier says they have to be assured that the gas is going to be there for the next 20 years, and he says there is a need for more trash to continue to go into the landfill. Commissioner Doug Robertson says he wants to be careful with such an agreement. "In the event that we have the opportunity to divert material going into that landfill and extend our closing costs is a very big item for the county, much bigger than the million dollars over 20 years that you're going to produce, and I would be very uncomfortable signing an agreement without some clarity." The commissioners voted to extend the term sheet another 60 days to try to work out the stumbling block, that would allow the company to go ahead with construction of the power plant. They hope to have it on line by October of next year. |
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February 9, 2012
- Roseburg, Oregon
