Denver seeks Arapahoe County easement for planned landfill-gas-to-RNG plant
A proposed permanent easement and revocable stormwater license would support Denver’s planned DADS facility, while key permit, monitoring and royalty details remain undisclosed.
Denver is seeking an easement and stormwater license from Arapahoe County to support a planned landfill-gas-to-renewable-natural-gas facility at the Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site, with construction anticipated in late 2026.
The request is scheduled for consideration by Denver’s Finance and Business Committee on Aug. 11. It would authorize a Uniform Easement Deed and Revocable Storm Drainage License Agreement with the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners near 3500 S. Gun Club Road, according to Denver’s request. The record does not show that either agreement had been approved or executed as of Aug. 9.
The proposed nonexclusive easement would allow Denver to access, build, operate and maintain infrastructure for the project. The separate, revocable license would allow the city to discharge approved stormwater flows at the site. The proposed easement would be perpetual, beginning approximately Aug. 1, 2026, and the request lists the contract amount as $0.
The project is being developed by Denver’s Department of Public Health & Environment and WM. Denver describes it as Colorado’s first landfill-gas-to-renewable-natural-gas plant and the state’s largest renewable-natural-gas facility, according to the department’s project announcement. The announcement says the plant would refine nearly all gas produced at the landfill into pipeline-quality gas, reducing flaring and potentially reducing ozone precursors and other pollutants.
The available records do not provide a complete list of remaining approvals or establish whether Denver or Arapahoe County has issued site-development, grading, building or drainage approvals. They also do not show whether state regulators have issued project-specific air-quality, stormwater or landfill permits.
The request says WM would handle stormwater maintenance but does not specify drainage standards, flow limits, inspection schedules, environmental monitoring, emissions testing, reporting requirements or enforcement terms. A review of available official Denver and Colorado records did not locate a project-specific environmental review, monitoring plan or permit issuance record. That absence does not establish that no permit or application exists.
Denver City Council adopted a separate agreement with WM on Dec. 1, 2025. The council record describes a 20-year revenue agreement allowing WM Renewable Energy LLC to design, finance, build and operate the facility, the adopted Legistar record says. Denver expects royalties from project-generated revenue, but the documents reviewed do not state the royalty percentage, revenue formula, payment schedule, minimum guarantee or projected return.