By ZEINAB NAJM
Sunday Times Newspapers
RIVERVIEW — Mayor Andrew Swift signed a new contract agreement with Riverview Energy Systems for a project to convert the landfill gas into pipeline quality natural gas.
The City Council unanimously approved the gas purchase agreement and license agreement following a 30-minute closed session Jan. 31. Councilmembers Chuck Norton and Sussie O’Neil were excused from the meeting.
According to a Facebook post by Swift, the royalties earned will be used to fund the city’s underfunded Other Post Employment Benefits without increasing residents’ property taxes.
The renewable gas plant is scheduled to go live in about three years and the city will receive annual payments of at least $400,000.
During the meeting, Swift thanked everyone who worked on the project saying it has been a goal of council and specifically the landfill committee for years.
“I think Riverview is going to benefit tremendously from this, this is a big deal for Riverview,” Swift said at the special meeting.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)