The cost has gone up very significantly for a project that would turn Redding’s food waste into electricity. Working with a $10 Million Calrecycle Co-digestion Grant, the system was going to produce gas from garbage and inject it into a PG&E natural gas line. As it turns out, the city found the terms with PG&E to be untenable, so a new plan was developed. The city would buy its own biogas digester generation systems and upgrade existing equipment to adapt to the city’s gas-fired electric plant.Last November the City Council authorized $4 Million for the added needs, but staff apparently greatly underestimated all of the costs. Another $7.9 million is needed, and the council will be asked for that money at Tuesday’s meeting.
-Steve Gibson