Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-010 Solid Waste - MOU with UNC Chapel Hill Landfill Gas Recovery Process Options~,~-~ ili s~o~ 6 ~~ Memorandum of Understanding • between The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Orange County, North Carolina Goals of the Parties: • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (University), a premier public research university, is committed to addressing the problems and priorities of the citizens of North Carolina and to establishing a leadership position among its peers with respect to climate change and sustainability. • The University's Chancellor has signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, pledging that the University will achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible. • The University has begun the development process for a new campus, Carolina North, which it desires to be climate neutral from inception. Use of landfill gas as an alternative fuel for both thermal and electric energy production is an important component of achieving this goal. • Orange County is committed to addressing the problems and priorities of its citizens, and to taking a leadership role among local governments with respect to climate change. • Orange County has joined ICLEI -Local Governments for Sustainability and is leading the climate change effort for local governments in Orange County. • • Orange County desires to eliminate the odor and methane gas released from its Eubanks Road Landfill, and to create an additional revenue stream for the County, by utilizing the gas for energy or other beneficial purposes. • The University and the County desire to work together to explore the feasibility, and if feasible the joint timely implementation of, a landfill gas collection and use system that will manage this waste stream in a sustainable manner that benefits the County, the University, the community, and the environment. Responsibilities of the University • Further refine the gas production estimates included in the March 2006 report, Landfill Gas Recovery Feasibility Study, by Olver Incorporated. • Identify alternatives for use of the gas by the University for energy or other beneficial purposes, it being understood that flaring of the gas may be the best short term alternative to quickly reduce odor but is not an acceptable final outcome. The length of the anticipated short term will be defined as part of the proposed project schedule in the final agreement negotiated between the University and the County. Anticipated alternatives to be examined are as follows: o Gas to existing Airport Drive Complex at Carolina North for Thermal and/or Cogeneration Use o Gas to existing UNC Cogeneration facility for use as a cofiring fuel in the boilers o Electric Generation for the Airport Drive Complex at Carolina North • Assess the economic feasibility of the identified alternatives and identify possible approaches to structuring a mutually satisfactory business relationship between the • University and the County. Memorandum of Understanding Page 1 of 3 • Aggressively pursue the supporting analysis and present recommendations with the • explicit intent of moving forwazd with a plan to work with the County on the beneficial use of the gas. • Provide the County a written status report every 30 days during the 90-day feasibility study period. • Complete this feasibility work within 90 days of the execution of this agreement. Responsibilities of Orange County • Provide information on its operations as needed for the completion of the feasibility analyses • Generally support the feasibility analyses led by the University and ensure compatibility of proposals with ongoing landfill operations and objectives. • Permit access to its facilities in conformance with its policies and procedures as needed to enable completion of the technical and financial feasibility analyses. This includes access for drilling test wells to better ascertain potential gas flows and quantities. The University and the County Agree that: • This Memorandum contemplates the use of gas from the landfill on both the north and south sides of Eubanks Road, according to the attached map. • This is an exclusive relationship and neither the University nor the County will enter into a conflicting agreement to develop an energy program based on the County's landfill gas prior to the expiration of the 90 day term discussed herein • • This Memorandum will terminate 90 days from inception unless extended by mutual written agreement of the parties. • The University may enter upon the landfill property for the purposes of completing the feasibility analysis. The University shall notify Gayle Wilson, the County's Solid Waste Director prior to entering the landfill property. To the extent provided by the North Cazolina Tort Claims Act, The University shall be solely responsible for any and all losses, damages, and injuries sustained or caused by its employees, agents and contractors while they aze engaged in work pursuant to this Memorandum while on County owned property. • Coincident with the 90 days feasibility analysis period, the University and the County will work together to draft a detailed agreement for the collection and use of the landfill gas. o It is the intent of the parties to be prepared to execute a final agreement for the collection and use of the gas based on the goals established herein at the end of the feasibility study period if both parties agree to proceed following receipt of the results of the feasibility study. o The final agreement will address design, fmance, permitting (local and state), construction, operation, and maintenance of the system, including progress benchmazks. o The final agreement will address revenue sharing, including carbon credits. Memorandum of Understanding Page 2 of 3 u • ~i BY: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ~ . ~~ Richard .Mann Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration BY: Orange County, North Carolina Barry Jacobs Chair, Orange Memorandum of Understanding ~- ~~v - ~d Date ~-i7-~S Date Page 3 of 3