The Center for American Progress, a well respected think tank in Washington, DC, recently published a white paper entitled, "Energy From Waste Can Help Curb Greenhouse Gas Emissions," in which it relates the myriad environmental benefits associated with waste-to-energy.  The paper, written by Matt Kasper, lays out the importance of waste-to-energy in promoting sustainable waste management and clean renewable energy.  Kasper notes EPA research that shows for every ton of garbage processed at a waste-to-energy facility, approximately one ton of emitted carbon-dioxide equivalent in the atmosphere is prevented.  The United States is missing a large opportunity to improve its greenhouse footprint by not increasing demand for waste-to-energy.  As the report concludes, "Both energy from waste and recycling and composting efforts are a win-win-win for the United States."  The report adds that "EfW generates clean electricity, decreases greenhouse gases that would have been emitted from landfills and fossil-fuel power plants, and pairs well with increased recycling rates in states."

Waste-to-energy "often brings greenhouse gas mitigating, baseload renewable energy and significant jobs through both the construction and operation of plants," according to the Democratic Governors' Association (DGA).  In a paper entitled, "Opportunities to Increase and Diversify Domestic Energy Resources: A Path Forward for States to Create and Retain Jobs", DGA recognizes that trash is converted into energy at facilities throughout the U.S. and serves as a sustainable baseload renewable energy resource, adding to our fuel diversity.  The boost to the economy provided by waste-to-energy is evidenced by the expansion of the HPOWER facility in Hawaii, which created 400 construction jobs and will employ 34 full-time employees, as well as contribute millions in direct and indirect spending to the local economy.

The Energy Recovery Council, along with the Biomass Power Association and the National Hydropower Association, today praised the Obama Administration’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2014. The budget contains a provision to permanently extend the production tax credit (PTC) for renewable energy sources.  “This is just the kind of policy that our industry needs to grow and thrive,” said Ted Michaels, President of Energy Recovery Council. “Extending the PTC for renewables is a responsible step that helps our country establish stable, reliable, domestic, and diverse sources of energy.”  A permanent PTC extension would be a major boon to the biomass, hydropower and waste-to-energy industries, as it would provide the stability and continuity that will help attract private investment for facilities that are proposed or under construction. It also signals greater long-term federal support for the development of renewables. Historically, the credit must be renewed every few years, which can cause financial uncertainty. 

A report was released this week by Eileen Berenyi of Governmental Advisory Associates highlighting the total statewide economic contribution of waste-to-energy in Connecticut ($428 million).  The six waste-to-energy plants in Connecticut employ 381 workers, who earn $32.7 million in wages, salaries and benefits.  In addition, there are 558 additional full time equivalent jobs that were created in Connecticut outside the WTE sector, with those employees earning $27.4 million in wages, salaries and benefits.  Therefore, total direct and indirect jobs in Connecticut sustained by the waste-to-energy industry equals 939 full-time equivalent jobs with $60 million in wages, salaries and benefits.

Green Conversion Systems (Rye, New York) has completed the acquisition of the operating contract for the Pinellas County (FL) waste-to-energy facility from Veolia ES North America.  The facility has the ability to process approximately 3,150 tons per day of municipal solid waste and generates approximately 75 megawatts of renewable electricity for sale to Progress Energy.  Thomas (Tommy) Murphy, with twenty six years of experience in the Energy from Waste field, will transition from Veolia to join GCS.  Murphy’s goal, in joining the senior GCS team led by founder and Chief Executive Officer Marc McMenamin, will be to lend his considerable experience to GCS greenfield development activity and maximizing the opportunity provided by the Pinellas acquisition.  Green Conversion Systems is a privately owned developer and now operator of energy from waste facilities in North America and the Caribbean.  GCS was founded in 2008 and is the exclusive North American technology partner of Fisia Babcock (FBE) headquartered in Germany.