Ministry OKs sludge-fuelled power plant
The Hamilton Spectator
(Sep 23, 2008)
Liberty Energy finally has the Environment Ministry go-ahead to build a 10-megawatt, sludge-fuelled power plant on Strathearne Avenue North.
Wilson Nolan, chief executive officer, announced late yesterday that the ministry had issued certificates of approval for waste management, air emissions and wastewater treatment after a 30-day public comment period that ended at midnight Saturday. He also revealed that construction cost of the Liberty Energy Centre is now estimated at $180 million -- $90 million for each of two incinerators that will burn a mix of sewage sludge and wood waste, producing enough renewable energy to supply 8,000 homes. The pricetag has more than doubled since California-based Liberty first proposed the plant four years ago.
Nolan said the company can now go after municipal sludge-disposal contracts. It will only build when it has sufficient tonnage lined up. Capacity is said to be 340,000 tonnes of sludge and 130,000 tonnes of biomass a year.
Posted on October 13th