Grand Rapids, Michigan, officials consider anaerobic digestion at former landfill

The Butterworth Acres landfill is considered a Superfund site by the EPA.

City officials in Grand Rapids, Michigan, are considering construction of an anaerobic digestion project at a former landfill site after a solar farm developer ceased communications with the city, a report by Midwest Energy News says

The city partnered with American Capital Energy, Lawrence, Massachusetts, for the 2.25 megawatt solar project in 2015, the report says. Since mid-2016, officials claim the company hasn’t responded to communications about a long-term power purchase and land lease agreement.

The city is now contemplating an anaerobic digestion project to replace the solar plans, but are still considering a smaller solar project on the site, according to the report.

The project started after former Mayor George Heartwell set the city on a path to 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. The report says the project was to use the former Butterworth Acres landfill, a mile away from downtown, to power operations of a local wastewater treatment facility.

The city has already spent $30,000 on the project, the report says. This includes $20,000 for engineering services and $10,000 for legal counsel.

According to the report, Butterworth Acres landfill was identified as a Superfund site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2013, EPA funded resuse feasibility study for the site.