A powerful partnership A powerful partnership (February 13, 2004)

City to sell landfill gas to Alza

By Grace Rauh

If negotiations with Alza are successful, they will mark the first time since 1996 that the city has sold its local landfill gas to a corporation.

The city council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to begin negotiations with the Alza Corporation over landfill gas sales, which are expected to bring the city approximately $193,500 in annual revenues.

"This is one of those rare win-win-win situations," said former Council member Nancy Noe, who works for Alza.

Alza has proposed installing landfill gas-powered generators that would supply electricity to four locations in the North Bayshore area. Alza plans to use two-thirds of the electricity produced by the generators; the remaining third will be sold to Pacific Gas and Electric.

Landfill gas used to create electricity yields fewer emissions than traditional energy sources. For example, carbon dioxide levels would be reduced.

The landfill gas is emitted from the Shoreline landfill, which first opened in 1970 and is the site of the Shoreline Regional Park. The landfill may take at least 30 years to settle, during which time the gas will be emitted.

From 1986 to 1996, the city sold the landfill gas to Laidlaw Gas Recovery Systems. Since then, the gas has been incinerated at a flare station behind Shoreline Amphitheatre.

E-mail Grace Rauh at grauh@yahoo.com

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