News Details
Energy/Compost Feasibility Study
******Update******
On February 6, 2012 the Palo Alto City Council approved a contract with ARI to perform several tasks. One of those tasks was to make minor changes to the Final Feasibility Study dated 8/30/11 (revised on 9/20/11). The need for those changes surfaced after the report was completed. ARI has now completed new calculations and made relatively minor changes to the study.
Revised Final Feasibility Study w/o Appendices (February 20, 2012)
Updated City Council Presentation-Final Feasibility Report (February 20, 2012)
*****End of Update*****
For follow-up information on the Energy/Compost Feasibility Study, visit our Energy/Compost Facility Consideration webpage. Alternative Resources, Inc. (ARI, the City’s Consultant) has finalized the Feasibility Study for a potential Energy/Compost Facility adjacent to the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant to convert organic materials to energy and compost. In January 2011 a Preliminary Analysis had been done by ARI on the cost and greenhouse gas emissions. Many comments were received from the public and Council Members. Those comments were addressed in the Draft Study which was presented to City Council on June 27, 2011. No significant changes from the Draft were made in the Final (September 2011) Report.
On April 5, 2010 the Palo Alto City Council directed staff to hire a consultant to conduct a Feasibility Study for a dry anaerobic digestion facility on the southeast side of Palo Alto's wastewater treatment plant ("Plant"). (See "April 5, 2010 City Council Meeting Results." )
The Feasibility Study will investigate three potential feedstocks: yard trimmings, food scraps and biosolids (from the Plant). Most of Palo Alto's yard trimmings are currently made into compost at the Palo Alto Landfill. Most food scraps are currently landfilled. The wastewater biosolids are currently incinerated.
Dry anaerobic digestion would produce methane gas and compost. The methane gas would be used to produce some form of energy and thus the name "Energy/Compost Feasibility Study". Alternative Resources Inc. has been selected to conduct the Study. The study was completed in September 2011.
For more details on the work which led up to the Feasibility Study visit the Compost Task Force Follow-up site.
- November 8, 2011 Ballot Initiative
Draft Feasibility Study (June 2011)
- Draft Feasibility Report
- Cost Data/Cost Summary
- Cost Data/Scenario1/Simple DAD
- Cost Data/Scenario 2/Simple DAD
- Cost Data/Scenario 3/Simple DAD
- Cost Data/Scenario 1/Complex DAD
- Cost Data/Scenario 2/Complex DAD
- Cost Data/Scenario 3/Complex DAD
- Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Summary
- GHG Conversions
- GHG Emission Rates
- GHG References
Preliminary Analysis
- Energy/Compost 1/24/11 Draft Preliminary Analysis Executive Summary
- Greenhouse Gas Draft Preliminary Analysis
- Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors
- Greenhouse Gas References
- Greenhouse Gas Emission Rates
- Energy/Compost Preliminary Cost Analysis Summary
- Energy/Compost Preliminary Cost Estimate/Low Cost Range/Electricity
- Energy/Compost Preliminary Cost Estimate/Low Cost Range/Gas
- Energy/Compost Preliminary Cost Estimate/High Cost Range/Electricity
Feasibility Study Preparation
- Financial Model
- Greenhouse Gas Model
- Addendum No. 1 to Request for Information to Anaerobic Digestion Vendors
- Request for Information to Anaerobic Digestion Vendors
- List of Anaerobic Digestion Vendors
- Distances From Palo Alto (Miles)
- Consultant (ARI) Project Schedule
- Study Preparation Timeline
- Statement of Work
- Draft Worksheet for Data Collection and Analysis
Public Meetings
- March 9, 2011
- February 23, 2011
- September 15, 2010
Written Public Comments
City Council Involvement and City Manager Reports
- June 27, 2011 - Council Meeting Action Minutes
- June 27, 2011 - City Manager Report No. 1632 - Transmittal of Draft Energy/Compost Feasibility Study to Council and Opportunity for Council Direction on Completing Final Feasibility Study
- April 11, 2011 - Council Meeting Action Minutes
- April 11, 2011 City Manager Report No. 1550 - Request for Council Direction on Draft Energy/Compost Feasibility Study due to Council in June 2011
- March 21, 2011 City Manager Report No. 1295 - Update on Preliminary Analysis of a Potential Energy/Compost Facility at PA Landfill/Byxbee Park and the Alternatives (Attachments Included)
- December 13, 2010 City Manager Report CMR:454:10 - Update on Analysis of Organics Residuals Management for Palo Alto
- August 2, 2010 City Manager's Report and Contract with ARI
- August 2, 2010 City Manager's Report - Calaveras Reserve Funding of Anaerobic Digestor
- May 24, 2010 City Manager's Report - Status of Feasibility Study
- April 5, 2010 City Council Meeting Results
Map/Diagrams
- Draft Conceptual Grading Plan to Create 9-Acre Site-August 2010
- Draft Cut-Fill Schematic to Create 9-Acre Site-August 2010
- Preliminary Study Site Outline on Existing 5/10 Topo
- Preliminary Study Site Outline on Final Contours
- Preliminary Study Site Outline on Current 5/10 Aerial Photo
- Preliminary Study Site Outline on PA GIS Aerial Photo
Background Information
Consultant Selection
- ARI Contract
- Request for Proposals for Feasibility Study
- ARI Study Proposal (Key Components)
- ARI Proposal Presentation
Last Updated: June 1, 2010