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Energy/Compost Facility Consideration

Energy/Compost Facility Consideration

Update: On December 8, 2014 Staff presented the proposals to Council received in response to the Compost Request for Proposals (RFP). The Compost RFP had been issued on July 3, 2014 with proposals due September 15, 2014.  Council rejected all proposals, due to their relatively high cost, and directed staff to focus on the other components of the Organics Facilities Plan which Council had accepted on May 8, 2014.  These other components will result in phasing out the wastewater sludge incinerators, and installing an anaerobic digester for wastewater sludge and food scraps.  The Compost RFP would have resulted in a Compost Facility for yard trimmings on the Measure "E" site. End of Update.

On February 10, 2014, staff presented to Council a Measure "E" Update:  The Energy/Compost Facility Request for Proposals (E/CF RFP) Identified Pricing for Privately-Funded Projects and Technologies to Jointly Handle Food Scraps, Yard Trimmings and Biosolids and Considered Processing at the Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) and/or Using the 10-Acre Measure E Site as well as Export Options.  A summary of the E/CF RFP Proposals, Integration with the Biosolids Facility Plan and a Proposed Organics Plan are included in this staff report.

Background:  On November 8, 2011 Palo Alto voters approved Measure "E", which undedicated 10 acres of Byxbee Park adjacent to the sewage treatment plant (the Regional Water Quality Control Plant or RWQCP) for a ten year period while an Energy/Compost Facility is considered for the site.  The facility could, if approved, utilize food scraps, yard trimmings and wastewater solids in the production of energy and compost. 

The Facility Consideration webpage is the third in a series of webpages which are designed to keep the public informed as an Energy/Compost Facility in Palo Alto is considered.  The first tracked the work of the Compost Blue Ribbon Task Force.  The second website tracked the development and finalization of the Energy/Compost Feasibility Study and the Environmental Impact Initial Study.
 
For official information on the RFP and all Addenda 

Last Updated: October 31, 2013