Firm to run, maintain DeKalb landfill-electricity plant

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners recently agreed to pay $2.8 million over the next five years for a private company to run and maintain an electric facility at the Seminole Road landfill.

The contract calls for Stearns, Conrad and Schmidt Consulting Engineers, to oversee the facility, which converts methane from the landfill into electricity. The county makes about $500,000 a year, just under the contract expense, selling that electricity to Georgia Power.

DeKalb built the plant in 2006 and has since paid off the construction from the sale of power.