The landfill gas to energy project was completed in two phases. Phase one began at the end of 1995 when Landfill Energy Systems, (LES) was selected from a competitive bid field of fourteen other project developers. The County of Sacramento awarded LES a contract for the installation of a landfill gas collection system complete with a blower flare station.

In 1996 LES installed 145 gas collection wells, a blower station and a flare designed to handle 7.2 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. The project is currently processing over 6.0 million cubic feet of landfill gas per day. LES provides a full-time wellfield technician to perform operation and maintenance service for the collection system and blower flare station. Construction for the second phase began in March 1999 as the County broke ground for its 9-megawatt electrical generating plant. The County owns the power plant and sells the electricity produced to the local utility, which is the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. LES provided the design, all major equipment and start-up services for the generating plant.

The facility uses three Caterpillar 3616 engine generator sets, each capable of producing three megawatts. LES was contracted by the County to provide all daily operations and maintenance services for the generating plant.

The Sacramento County generating facility began commercial operation January 2000. The EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program awarded this project the distinction of "Landfill Gas to Energy Project of the Year". The County is planning on expanding the facility with the addition of two CAT 3616 engine generator sets, adding another 6 megawatts.