The city of Dearborn is soliciting proposals to explore the feasibility of a waste-to-energy plant.
The project is part of the city's efforts to become more environmentally friendly. Other recent initiatives are moving toward single-stream recycling and considering LED streetlights. Local officials see the waste-to-energy plant as another feather in the city's tree-hugging hat.
"Do we have enough waste to create enough energy to support the industrial facilities in the city?" says David Norwood, sustainability coordinator for the city of Dearborn.
The waste-to-energy plant isn't your normal dirty Detroit-style incinerator. Dearborn is looking at gasification plans that don't actually burn the refuse. The city is also looking at an anerobic digestor for its sludge waste.
The proposals are due by May 24 (more information here) and a decision on the feasibility of this idea is expected to be made before the end of the year.
Source: David Norwood, sustainability coordinator for the city of Dearborn
Writer: Jon Zemke
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