Yolo County Landfill Project Turns Methane Into Renewable Fuel

Yolo County is moving forward with a project to replace the aging gas-to-electricity system at the Yolo County Central Landfill with a facility that will convert landfill gas into renewable natural gas.

The Yolo County Board of Supervisors approved the 20-year agreement with Yolo RNG, LLC on May 26. The agreement takes effect July 1, and the new facility is expected to be completed by summer 2028.

“With this project, the county will progress towards our goal of reducing climate emissions while also providing economic benefits for the community,” said Sheila Allen, Chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. “I am grateful to our Integrated Waste Management team and other county staff who worked to bring this project forward, as well as Redtail Renewables for their collaboration.”

Once operational, the facility is expected to process all landfill gas collected at the Yolo County Central Landfill and convert it into pipeline-quality renewable natural gas. The gas can then be injected into PG&E’s existing pipeline system.

The project will also provide long-term operational and financial benefits to the County, including guaranteed annual revenue payments to support landfill enterprise operations. The approved agreement begins a multi-year development and permitting process that will include contractor procurement, environmental compliance review, engineering and design, and coordination with multiple regulatory agencies.

“County staff executed an agreement that takes our grandfathered gas-to-energy facility built back in the late ‘80s to a state-of-the-art facility that meets all modern environmental standards,” said Yolo County Integrated Waste Management Division Director Marissa Juhler. “This is 40 years in the making which will take us into the future with better gas capture and a more versatile end product. We have a lot to be proud of in this partnership.”

Over the next two years, the County and project partners will work through several key implementation steps as the project advances through planning, permitting, and development phases. This includes following County approved procurement processes for construction contracting and project delivery, coordinating with labor partners to ensure compliance with applicable prevailing wage requirements, and working closely with regulatory agencies including the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District and Local Enforcement Agency to ensure environmental compliance with decommissioning, project construction and long-term daily operations.

The Yolo County Central Landfill has long served as a regional leader in innovative waste management and sustainability efforts. This project represents the next step in advancing renewable energy opportunities and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through responsible landfill operations.

“Redtail was founded on the conviction that organic waste streams hold enormous, largely untapped clean energy potential,” said Redtail Renewables Chief Commercial Officer Rob Morgan. “Yolo County Central Landfill project is a flagship example of the possibility when a forward-thinking county government and an experienced renewable energy developer share a common vision. This is exactly the kind of project our team is set up to execute professionally, and we are honored by the trust Yolo County has placed in us.”