Ameresco Inc. will design, build, own and operate a 4.3-megawatt landfill gas-to-energy (LFGTE) plant at Republic Services’ Vasco Road Landfill in Livermore, Calif. The $13 million plant is slated to begin operations in late 2012.

Silicon Valley Power has signed a 20-year agreement to purchase the electricity generated by the Vasco Road Landfill plant, and will use the electricity to power homes in the Santa Clara and San Francisco Bay areas.

“The Vasco Road project is Republic’s seventh landfill gas-to-energy venture in California,” said Brian Bales, executive vice president of business development for Republic, in a press release. “In addition to converting gas from a landfill into renewable-based electricity, the project’s construction and operation will add new green jobs and economic benefits to the local economy, and it will help the state meet its commitment to increase its renewable energy portfolio standard.”