Landfill Committee Advances Plan to Purchase Fourth Compressor for RNG Plant

Will County Landfill Committee Meeting | Jan. 13, 2026

Article Summary: The Landfill Committee voted to move forward with engineering estimates for a fourth compressor at the Prairie View Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility. The $1.8 million investment aims to reduce downtime and increase revenue, despite concerns about funding sources and timing.

RNG Plant Key Points:

• Downtime Costs: Data shows that feed compressor failures account for nearly 36% of plant downtime, costing the county an estimated $600,000 annually in lost revenue.

• Proposed Solution: Installing a fourth compressor would ensure three units are always operational, maximizing gas production and revenue. The estimated cost is $1.8 million with a 3-5 year return on investment.

• Budget Concerns: The purchase was not included in the current fiscal year budget. Officials discussed using remaining funds from the previous year or splitting the cost across two budget cycles due to a 46-week lead time for the equipment.

Will County officials are taking steps to boost efficiency and revenue at the Prairie View Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) plant by pursuing the addition of a fourth feed compressor.

At the Landfill Committee meeting on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Dave Hartke, Director of the Resource Recovery & Energy Division, presented data highlighting the financial impact of equipment failures. The facility’s three existing compressors are the primary cause of outages, leading to significant revenue losses.

“If we have three feed compressors operating at all times… we’re going to be producing closer to 27 to 2900 mm BTUs,” Hartke explained, noting this would allow the plant to hit higher revenue tiers faster each month.

The proposed fourth unit, estimated at $1.8 million fully installed, would provide redundancy. However, the plan faced scrutiny regarding its financing. Board Member Sherry Newquist questioned the timing, noting, “This kind of stuff is so much easier to deal with during the budget process.”

Hartke admitted the request was not in the original budget due to a prior focus on austerity. “I wasn’t quite expecting the response… that we should move forward with it,” he said, referencing earlier informal discussions with committee leadership.

Despite the budget hurdle, the committee saw the long-term value. With a 46-week lead time for the equipment, Finance Director Marcy indicated the cost could potentially be split across two fiscal years.

Board Member Jim Richmond emphasized the need for a deeper analysis before cutting a check. “This is a massive business decision… We need to actually look at that plant and make sure that it is spec’d properly from the front door to the back door,” Richmond said.

Ultimately, the committee voted unanimously to authorize staff to proceed with obtaining firm engineering costs and a project plan, which will then be brought back for final financial approval.