County forms partnership to collect landfill gas

ASHEBORO — Collecting natural gas to sell is a complicated task. Randolph County officials worked with an outside attorney to draft agreements between Randolph County, Waste Management of the Carolinas (WM) and Waga Energy, so they can extract methane from the Great Oak Landfill.

On June 1, the board of commissioners reviewed and approved them at its monthly meeting.

The county hopes to profit off methane gas, which is caused by fermentation at the landfill. The commissioners chose to work with Waga at their October meeting after reviewing companies that specialize in capturing methane.

Waga President Tanguy Largeau told commissioners they will build a 200-foot-by 200 foot device called the WAGABOX. He explained it will capture and purify the gas. Then it can be injected into Piedmont Natural Gas’ lines and carried to homes and businesses. 

Largeau said capacity would start at 3,300 square cubic feet per minute. Once they complete engineering, permitting, construction and interconnections, the WAGABOX could be running by the first half of 2028.

Gray Styers, an attorney with Fox Rothschild, went over the agreements. He said they are complex because the county owns the rights to the gas, WM operates the landfill and the equipment will belong to Waga. 

Styers and engineers from Smith+Gardner came up with three documents: A Gas Rights and Development Agreement, Triparty Cooperations, and a Site Lease.

“On Waga’s part, when they realized they had to get three parties on board, which was not necessarily typical in their experience, we assured them that the county had a good working relationship with Waste Management,” Styers said.

Commissioner Chair Darrell Frye asked about how much revenue to expect. Styers said that it will fluctuate, but it could be as high as $4.8 million year over year. If they expand in the coming years, it could be more than $10 million.

Frye said, “[The landfill has] been a revenue producer for us for about eight years now. We’ve used the funds to balance out budget. We’ve used funds to help some of our nonprofits here in the county.”

Other requests on the meeting agenda

■ Randolph Senior Adults Association (RSAA) asked commissioners to approve the second year of a Home and Community Care Block Grant contract. Executive Director Floyd Johnson said it will provide $677,873 to RSAA and $308,732 to Regional Consolidated Services.

The grant, which runs for three years, helps fund adult day care, congregate nutrition, meal deliveries, counseling and transportation, in-home aid, and home improvements.

■ Major Ricci D’Angelo got approval to contract with a new food provider for the jail. The sheriff’s office chose to switch to Kellwell Food Management. He said they expect they will deliver improved food service and a higher caloric intake for the inmates. Kellwell will commit a one-time $10,000 grant payment and $17,000 to install a floor-based orbital mixer in the kitchen.

■ Commissioners awarded DH Griffin Wrecking Company the demolition of County Rest Home. The company submitted the low bid of $99,600. The commissioners asked County Engineer Paxton Arthurs about the bid because it was much lower than the next lowest. Arthurs confirmed the companies had seen all the requirements. Commissioner Lester Rivenbark recused himself from voting because his company has connections to DH Griffin.

— Frye highlighted that the county is observing Elder Abuse Awareness Month in June. Tracie Murphy, director of Randolph County Department of Social Services, said they took roughly 400 calls related to abuse, neglect or exploitation this fiscal year.

— Commissioners honored Tammie Smith, who retired from the tax department on April 30. Tax Assessor Debra Hill thanked her for 35 years of service.