Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley thinks a Frederick (MD) waste-to-energy plant could have merit. O'Malley, a Democrat seeking re-election, visited Frederick on Tuesday to speak to the Chamber of Commerce, tour a local business and meet with The Frederick News-Post editorial board. A planned waste-to-energy plant for Frederick and Carroll counties is a hot topic in this year's commissioner race, and during his visit O'Malley alluded to the benefits such a plant could have. He said he traveled to Sweden and found out the country had a zero landfill policy, relying on waste-to-energy trash incineration. "They have come to the conclusion that waste-to-energy is far less damaging to the environment than the sort of emissions that happen over time and the degradation to ground water and the air from landfills," O'Malley said. O'Malley said his goal is for Maryland to have a portfolio of renewable energy sources, including waste-to-energy. He said a plant in the Fairfield areas of Baltimore would also play a role in that. "I was in favor of the one in Fairfield that got sited, and this one could have merit, too," he said. To read the article in the Frederick News-Post, please click here.

The U.S. Environmental Information Administration website hosts a page entitled "Energy Kids" which is designed to convey energy topics in a way that is meaningful and interesting for kids.  The mascot of this initiatie is the "Energy Ant" who tours various energy facilities and posts write-ups of his various field trips.  The Energy Ant recently visited the Covanta Alexandria waste-to-energy facility in Virginia and posted a very nice report on his field trip on the EIA Kids page.  Please read more here. 

Lois Jackson, Chair of Metro Vancouver board of direcors and Mayor of Delta, wrote an op-ed published by straight.com which rationally laid out the merits of waste-to-energy and why it is the logical choice for Metro Vancouver to pursue.  Ms. Jackson does an excellent job of outlining the waste management challenges faced by Metro Vancouver and the economic and environmental factors that must be considered.  When all is said and done, Ms. Jackson concludes that waste-to-energy is the right choice for Metro Vancouver.  The entire op-ed may be read here or by clicking "read more" underneath this text.

The Energy Recovery Council joined with other renewable energy and energy efficiency groups today in sending a letter to President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urging that the Senate quickly consider energy legislation upon its return from recess on July 12.  It is critical that this legislation is enactly quickly to promote energy independence, stimulate jobs, and reduce carbon by promoting clean energy.  At a minimum, the signatories of the letter believe that the following fundamental elements will be critical to a successful package: 1) a strong renewable energy standard, 2) robust and predictable tax and other financial incentives, 3) energy efficiency codes and standards, and 4) renewable energy infrastructure provisions.  Other groups signing the letter include the American Wind Energy Association, the Solar Energy Industries Association, the Biomass Power Association, the Geothermal Energy Association, the Alliance to Save Energy, the National Hydropower Association, the Business Council on Sustainable Energy, and Growth Energy. 

Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed into law this week legislation (HR 7243) that would promote recycling in Florida and provide waste-to-energy an important opportunity to contribute toward that goal. Under the new law, each county must implement a recyclable materials recycling program that shall have a goal of recycling recyclable solid waste by 40 percent by December 31, 2012, 50 percent by 2014, 60 percent by 2016, 70 percent by 2018, and 75 percent by 2020. In order to promote the production of renewable energy from solid waste, each megawatt-hour produced by a waste-to-energy facility shall count as 1 ton of recycled material and shall be applied toward meeting the recycling goals. If a county creating renewable energy from solid waste implements and maintains a program to recycle at least 50 percent of trash by a means other than creating renewable energy, that county shall count 2 tons of recycled material for each megawatt-hour produced.