The city is submitting a grant application for the construction of a renewable natural gas (RNG) conditioning plant at the Lansdowne Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTC) and obtained the necessary budget in order to complete the work.
The wastewater treatment plant currently produces an average of 3,000 cubic metres of biogas per day, according to a report to council. Under current operating conditions, 1,800 cubic metres is used by the WWTC with the remaining gas being flared. Fortis BC has approached the City of Prince George and is interested in purchasing the biogas and converting it into renewable natural gas (RNG). The new RNG conditioning system will process the biogas into RNG for sale to Fortis, rather than flaring (burning off) the excess biogas.
The project must not start construction until after final federal approval is received. The city’s contribution to the project will need to be secured prior to approval of the project. Council approved the budget of $3.5 million from the Sewer Capital Expenditure Reserve requested by city administration in order to complete the RNG Plant at the WWTC. Council also authorized the city to submit an application under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – British Columbia – CleanBC Communities Fund, for the construction of the plant.