Deschutes County could soon start harnessing the gaseous byproduct of decomposing waste in Knott Landfill to create “biogas” that can be used to help power the local energy grid.
Landfill Gas Emissions 2021
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will conduct the Landfill Gas Emissions Reduction 2021 Rulemaking to address the effects of climate change and in partial response to Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Order 20-04. The Executive Order directs the Environmental Quality Commission and DEQ to take actions necessary to reduce methane gas emissions from landfills. DEQ proposes to complete a rulemaking for the landfill gas emissions to:
Align Oregon’s landfill gas emission rules with the most stringent requirements of adjacent states and federal government
Define regulatory applicability and program requirements
Reduce methane emissions from landfills
DEQ is convening an advisory committee to review the technical issues and fiscal impacts related to the proposed rules. In convening this committee, DEQ has appointed members that reflect the range of entities that are both directly and indirectly affected by proposed changes to the rules.