The proposed Biogas Renewable Generation Project is located within the boundaries of the existing landfill site at 3001 Scholl Canyon Road, Glendale California, 91206. Regional access to the site is from the Ventura Freeway (State Route 134) at the Figueroa Street exit.

Construction of the proposed project will occur over a course of approximately 15 to 18 months through implementation of approximately three phases of development.

Phase I – Demolition and Removal of Existing Equipment. Phase I will be implemented over four to five months and it will entail demolition and removal of existing equipment from the site to make room for the new power plant.

Phase II – Site Grading and Construction. Phase II will begin after Phase I is completed and will be implemented over the next nine to ten months.

◾ A new 60,000 gallon storage water tank will be constructed to provide fire protection water for the Project. 

◾This phase will also entail building concrete foundations, delivering and installing electrical generating equipment located within individual enclosures, compressors, landfill gas and condensate conditioning and treatment systems, electrical switchgear and other equipment and construction materials required to build the power plant.

◾A single, less than 1,000 square ft. storage building and a less than 1,000 square ft. office will be constructed. Pipes, conduits, and wires will be delivered and installed. A security and fire protection system will also be installed.

Phase III – System Startup. Phase III will begin after Phase II is completed and will be implemented over the next two to three months.

◾Phase III will entail such work activities as sandblasting, priming and painting the facility, delivery of consumables and verifying the operational capabilities of all systems required to make the facility safe and operational.

◾ After all the systems have been checked out for safe operations, the facility will be turned over to Glendale Water and Power operators to commence producing clean, reliable, and renewable electricity for the residents of Glendale. 

To make room for the Proposed Project, the existing landfill gas processing facility which conveys landfill gas to the Grayson Power Plant will be dismantled and removed.The existing concrete foundations and existing asphalt roads would also be demolished. 

The Project has the following benefits:

• Provide beneficial use of naturally occurring landfill gas as fuel for power generating equipment.
• Utilize the renewable biogas energy resource to help the City of Glendale meet its California mandated Renewable Portfolio Standards requirements.
• Located within an existing disturbed area within the boundary of the landfill. 
• Use of the existing transmission system to deliver generated electricity into the electrical grid without a need for transmission facility upgrades.
• The existing landfill gas pipeline from the landfill site to the Grayson Power Plant will be abandoned thereby eliminating the pipeline that runs through residential communities and eliminating long-term maintenance costs associated with use of the pipeline. 

• Request for Qualifications for EPC 
• Biogas RFQ Appendix D (MS Word Version)
• RFQ for EPC Addendum 1
• Administrative Draft Initial Study / Mitigated Negative Declaration
• EIR Probable Project Time Schedule

The Proposed Project would be located adjacent to the existing landfill gas blowers and standby flares that would include the following major equipment and systems:

• Landfill gas compressors to increase the landfill gas pressure from near atmospheric to the pressures required by the landfill gas treatment system and electrical generation equipment.

• Landfill gas conditioning system to prevent damage to the electrical generation equipment, and will consist of vessels, coolers, heat exchangers and control systems, designed to remove moisture and unwanted constituents from the landfill gas, which includes a new flare.

• Condensate treatment system to allow collected condensate to comply with the City of Glendale's Industrial Waste Discharge Permit prior to disposing the condensate into existing sewer system.

• Electrical generating equipment consisting of reciprocating engine generators to produce electricity using the landfill gas as fuel. The electrical generating equipment will be self-contained and located in individual enclosures.

• Combustion exhaust gas cleanup system and emmission monitoring system to comply with South Coast Air Quality Management District regulations, consisting of reactive catalyst using 19% Aqueous Ammonia as reactant to minimize emissions of nitrogen oxides.

• Electrical interconnection system to allow interconnection to the existing City electrical system.

• Small office and small storage building, less than 1,000 square feet each, required for operating and maintaining the Proposed Project.

• Fire protection and safety system to comply with National Fire Protection Association and Glendale Fire Department requirements.

• A new 60,000-gallon water fire tank would be constructed to provide water for fire protection.

• Area lighting, fencing, and security system would be provided for safety and security.

The Biogas Renewable Generation Project includes an approximately three-acre site which landfill gas would be received, conditioned, and combusted in reciprocating engines to produce approximately twelve megawatts of renewable electricity.

The Project includes an approximately two-thirds of a mile of natural gas pipeline to connect the power generation facility to the existing Southern California Gas Company pipeline system located at the eastern end of Scholl Canyon Drive. This natural gas pipeline would be utilized to augment the landfill gas when the heat content of the landfill gas falls below necessary operating limits for the electrical generating equipment. Up to 10% of the total energy consumed by the engines will come from natural gas, the remaining 90% of the energy will come from landfill gas. 

The energy produced from the Poject will be integrated into the City's power delivery system utilizing the existing electric system connected to the Scholl Substation. 

The Biogas Renewable Generation Project is located at an existing Class II nonhazardous landfill that has been accepting waste since the 1960’s. This waste is naturally decomposing and producing landfill gas that is combustible and can be put to beneficial use.

Currently, the landfill gas is collected at a central location within the Project site where it is compressed and liquids are removed. The landfill gas was sent to the Grayson Power Plant via an underground dedicated pipeline approximately five-miles in length where it was blended with natural gas and used as fuel in the boilers to make steam to generate electricity for the City of Glendale. The process has now ceased because the burning of the gas has proven to be more detrimental to the air quality and the environment, which is why we are proposing a replacement (not new) methane control system at Scholl which is a much better environmental control measure to eliminate methane that is naturally occurring at the landfill.

The Grayson Power Plant is being repowered (see website) and the new electric generation equipment is incompatible with the use of landfill gas as fuel. Therefore, the only two options available would be to dispose the landfill gas by incinerating it in a flare, or utilize it for beneficial use by consuming it as fuel for the generation of local renewable electricity as proposed by this Project.

Landfill gas is considered a renewable energy resource. 100 percent of the electricity generated by this Project will help the City of Glendale achieve the State of California mandated use of renewable energy. The City will produce and receive 100 percent renewable energy credits, by installing new generation units that can directly utilize the landfill gas at the Project site. Combusting and producing electricity at the Project site will enable the City of Glendale to decommission an approximately five-mile pipeline between the Project site and the Grayson Power Plant.  

Past Meetings

June 13, 2017
City Council meeting to recommend award of Contract for the Sale for the Power Island Major Equipment and Services for the Proposed Biogas Renewable Generation Project to Convert the Landfill Gas to Energy and the Issuance of a Limited Notice to Proceed to Western Energy Systems, a Division of Penn Detroit Diesel Allison, LLC, and Approval of Alternative Project Delivery Method for the Proposed Power Project.

Location:

Council Chamber, City Hall, 613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor Glendale, CA 91201

Time:

6:00 p.m. 

April 4, 2019
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Scoping Meetings

Location:
Police Community Room, 131 N. Isabel St., Glendale, CA 91206

Times:
1st meeting - 2:00 p.m.
2nd meeting - 6:00 p.m.

October 6, 2021
Notice of Intent to Certify the Final EIR and Approve a Conditional Use Permit for the Proposed Biogas Renewable Generation Project

Location:
Council Chamber, City Hall, 613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor Glendale, CA 91201
Not open to public due to COVID-19 health recommendations from LA County Health Department.

The meeting will begin at 5:00 PM and can be viewed on Charter Cable Channel 6 or streamed here. For public comments and questions during the meeting, call (818) 937-8100.

Community Open House For the
Scholl Canyon Biogas Renewable Generation Project

Join us on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Glendale Civic Auditorium (1401 N. Verdugo Rd. Glendale CA 91208) to learn about the Scholl Canyon Biogas Renewable Generation Project that will generate approximately 11 megawatts net of renewable energy for City of Glendale.
 

Arrive anytime between 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. to visit one-on-one with City staff and project team, who will be available to provide information and to answer questions about the project. Free parking is available.  

January 24, 2023
Scholl Canyon Landfill Biogas Renewable Generation Meeting to Issue FNTP

Location:
613 E. Broadway, Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206

Time:
6:00PM

June 7, 2023

Notice of Intent to Issue Permits to Construct and Operate, and of proposed initial title v permit pursuant to rules 212 and 3006. Click here to view the Notice of Intent.

South Coast AQMD Public Consultation Meeting via Zoom
      Time:
      6:00PM
      Zoom Information: 
      Join the Zoom Webinar from PC or Laptop at                                                                  https://scaqmd.zoom.us/j/91850325007 or by using
      Zoom Meeting ID: 918 5032 5007.

Written comments shall be submitted to:
South Coast Air Quality Management District
Engineering & Permitting
21865 Copley Drive
Diamond Bar, CA 91765-4178
Attention: Angela Shibata, Senior Air Quality Engineering Manager

Biogas is a natural byproduct of the decomposition of organic material in landfills. Biogas is composed of methane (the primary component of natural gas), carbon dioxide, hydrogen, oxygen, and small amounts of other compounds. If this biogas is not captured and disposed of properly it will disseminate into the atmosphere and contribute to detrimental greenhouse gas effects. The normal method of disposal of this biogas is to collect and incinerate it in a flare. The City proposes to collect this same gas and develop the Biogas Renewable Generation Project to beneficially utilize the gas as fuel for internal combustion engines to generate electricity for the benefit of the local community.

Click here to download Biogas RFQ Appendix D (MS Word Version)

Biogas Renewable Generation Project Final Mitigated Negative Declaration

COVER, TABLE OF CONTENTS, AND GLOSSARY

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING, IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES

3.1 AESTHETICS
3.2 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY RESOURCES
3.3 AIR QUALITY
3.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
3.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES
3.6 GEOLOGY AND SOILS
3.7 GREENHOUSE GAS
3.8 HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
3.9 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY
3.10 LAND USE AND PLANNING
3.11 MINERAL RESOURCES
3.12 NOISE
3.13 POPULATION AND HOUSING
3.14 PUBLIC SERVICES
3.15 RECREATION
3.16 TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC
3.17 TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES
3.18 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
3.19 MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE

4.0 MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PLAN

5.0 PROPOSED FINDING

6.0 LIST OF PREPARERS

7.0 REFERENCES

8.0 RESPONSE TO COMMENTS

APPENDIX A AIR QUALITY

APPENDIX B BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES TECHNICAL REPORT

APPENDIX C CULTURAL RESOURCES ASSESSMENT REPORT

APPENDIX D GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION REPORT

APPENDIX E GREENHOUSE (GHG) EMISSION INVENTORY

APPENDIX F PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT

APPENDIX G PRE-DEMOLITION ASBESTOS AND LEAD-BASED PAINT SURVEY

APPENDIX H NOISE MODELING AND DATA COLLECTION SHEETS

APPENDIX I TRAFFIC ANALYSIS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THE PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS FOR THE BIOGAS RENEWABLE GENERATION PROJECT

Click here to download the Request For Proposal

Click here to download the Professional Services Agreement

Click here to download the Insurance Requirements Exhibit

Proposers shall submit four (4) hard copies and one (1) separate CD/DVD containing the Proposal in a PDF file format to the following address:

Glendale Water and Power
141 N Glendale Ave., 4th Floor
Glendale, CA 91206
Attn: Maurice Oillataguerre

Proposals are due no later than 4:00 pm Pacific Time, September 7, 2018. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered.

GWP will not be responsible for submittals that are delinquent, lost, mismarked, sent to an address other than the address provided above, or sent by mail or courier service and not signed for by GWP.

RFP Released: August 2, 2018

Final day to submit requests for clarification: August 24, 2018 2:00 p.m. PST.

Final day to submit proposals: September 7, 2018

Existing Scholl Canyon Landfill Gas to Energy Project

In 1994, the City of Glendale developed a gas-to-energy project at Scholl Canyon landfill.  The project captured the naturally-occurring raw landfill gas (LFG) that results primarily from the decomposition of organic waste deposited in the landfill.  The LFG, by state and local regulatory mandate, must be controlled in such a manner as to eliminate the venting to the environment of this volatile heat trapping gas that has high methane content.  This gas is often referred to as a greenhouse gas or GHG.  The accepted control method is the combustion of the raw LFG in a flare, in an engine, or in a turbine, all of which dramatically reduce the overall toxicity and global warming impacts of methane. 

Prior to 1994, the LFG at Scholl Canyon was combusted exclusively in the permitted flares operating at the landfill, which are managed by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County under a Joint Powers Authority agreement with the City of Glendale.  When the gas-to-energy project was developed, the LFG was transmitted via a 5.5 mile pipeline to the Grayson Power Plant where it was blended with natural gas and used as fuel in three older, converted boilers (Units 3, 4 & 5) to generate electricity.  The flares have remained in place and are permitted and operable and act as a secondary point of delivery/control for the gas.  Over the years, the flares have been used, albeit less frequently than before, during maintenance periods, emergency shutdowns, and equipment failures at Grayson.  During the past three years, these types of occurrences have been more frequent as Unit 3 was taken out of service due to age and there have been several major repair projects on Units 4 & 5. 

In the course of compiling the Environmental Impact Report for the proposed Grayson Repowering Project, one particular study area that was included was an evaluation of air quality.  The City assessed the emissions from the proposed Grayson facility as well as from the existing facility for a comparison.  The results indicated that the emissions from the existing, older and mechanically-degraded Grayson generating units presented a higher than acceptable health risk.  The results are included in the EIR on page 9.96 (Table 9-7) and were presented in City Council meetings on February 6 and April 10, 2018.  The City promptly notified the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) of the findings and based on the findings, the City proactively implemented a risk reduction measure and transferred the combustion of the LFG to the secondary location at the landfill flare station.  The City continues to work with SCAQMD on the future handling and control of the LFG.

Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)

Draft EIR Notice of Preparation (NOP)

Draft EIR Public Notice

EIR Scoping Meeting PowerPoint

Biogas EIR RFP

The 90 day public review period for the Draft EIR ended on September 30, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT SECTIONS

COVER, TABLE OF CONTENTS, ACRONYMS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

3.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS

4.1 AESTHETICS
4.2 AIR QUALITY
4.3 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
4.4 ENERGY
4.5 GEOLOGY & SOILS
4.6 GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
4.7 HAZARDS & HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
4.8 HYDROLOGY & WATER QUALITY
4.9 LAND USE & PLANNING
4.10 NOISE
4.11 TRANSPORTATION
4.12 TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES
4.13 UTILITIES & SERVICE SYSTEMS
4.14 WILDFIRE

5.0 ALTERNATIVES

6.0 OTHER CEQA CONSIDERATIONS

7.0 REFERENCES

8.0 PREPARERS

APPENDIX A - NOP & INITIAL STUDY

APPENDIX B - AIR QUALITY

APPENDIX C - BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES TECHNICAL REPORT

APPENDIX D - GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION REPORT

APPENDIX E - GENERAL PLAN FAULT MAPS

APPENDIX F - GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION INVENTORY

APPENDIX G - PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT

APPENDIX H - PRE-DEMOLITION ASBESTOS AND LEAD-BASED PAINT SURVEY

APPENDIX I - OFF-SITE CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS FOR AQUEOUS AMMONIA

APPENDIX J - NOISE MODELING & DATA COLLECTION SHEETS

APPENDIX K - TRAFFIC ANALYSIS

APPENDIX L - TRIBAL CONSULT MEMORANDUM

APPENDIX M - FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN BASIS PLAN

APPENDIX N - OFF-SITE CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS FOR LFG TO LNG (ALTERNATIVE 3)

APPENDIX O - OFF-SITE CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS FOR LFG TO CNG (CONSIDERED ALTERNATIVE)

Click here to view the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) published on August 2, 2021.

DEIR Comment Letters

Below are Appendices for the Final EIR.

APPENDIX A - NOP & INITIAL STUDY 

APPENDIX B - AIR QUALITY

APPENDIX C - BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES TECHNICAL REPORT

APPENDIX D - GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION REPORT

APPENDIX E - GENERAL PLAN FAULT MAPS

APPENDIX F - GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION INVENTORY

APPENDIX G - PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT

APPENDIX H - PRE-DEMOLITION ASBESTOS AND LEAD-BASED PAINT SURVEY

APPENDIX I - OFF-SITE CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS FOR AQUEOUS AMMONIA

APPENDIX J - NOISE MODELING & DATA COLLECTION SHEETS

APPENDIX K - TRAFFIC ANALYSIS

APPENDIX L - TRIBAL CONSULT MEMORANDUM

APPENDIX M - FIRE PROTECTION DESIGN BASIS PLAN

APPENDIX N - OFF-SITE CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS FOR LFG TO LNG (ALTERNATIVE 3)

APPENDIX O - OFF-SITE CONSEQUENCE ANALYSIS FOR LFG TO CNG (CONSIDERED ALTERNATIVE) 

Click here to view the REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION OF PROPOSERS: Engineer, Procure, Construct Contractor for the Proposed Biogas Renewable Generation Project. 

Important Project Links:

1. U. S. Energy Information & Administration - EIA, Independent Statistics & Analysis. This information will be available once the project is online and data is available, approximately summer 2025.  

2. South Coast Air Quality Management District - emissions data available once project is online. 

3. Governor's Office of Emergency Services - Spill Release Reporting

4.   Scholl Fire Prevention Plan PDF