The Landfill Emission Reduction Grant program will funds methane emission reduction projects at landfills in Oregon. Oregon is already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change. Extreme weather events, chronic heat, drought, flooding, and intense wildfires are impacting everyone. In March 2020, Governor Brown signed Executive Order 20-04, directing DEQ to take actions necessary to reduce methane gas emissions from landfills, as defined in ORS 459.005(14). This is one component of a broader directive for state agencies to take action to reduce and regulate greenhouse gas emissions toward meeting reduction goals of at least 45% below 1990 emissions levels by 2035. Achieving these reductions requires enormous effort and investments throughout Oregon's economy and landscape.
To support this effort, Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality is implementing the
Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action Program - a $197 million federal grant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6.6 million metric tons across multiple sectors between the years 2025 and 2050. The Landfill Emissions Reduction Grant Program is one component of CERTA that will reduce methane emissions at landfills.
The DEQ Landfill Emissions Reduction Grant Program will fund innovative methane emission reduction projects at landfills in Oregon. Funds are available for eligible owners or operators of landfills for projects that go above and beyond applicable state and federal regulatory requirements.
This program held a one-time competitive grants process for eligible landfill owners and operators. We are excited to share that four methane mitigation projects were selected that will support new advances in the feild of methane mitigation technology.
DEQ anticipates these projects to start in early 2027, and will share more about this innovative work at that time. Projects at the following landfills were selected to move forward:
- Baker Sanitary Landfill
- Dry Creek Landfill
- Short Mountain Landfill
- Wasco County Landfill