Delta Thermo Energy Inc. to purchase closed Coastal Resources of Maine WTE facility

The Municipal Review Committee (MRC) board of directors announced on a Jan. 19 virtual town hall that Feasterville Trevose, Pennsylvania-based Delta Thermo Energy Inc. (DTE) has agreed to purchase the shuttered Coastal Resources of Maine waste-to-energy facility in Hampden, Maine, The Republican Journal reports.

The plant has been closed since May due to lack of funding.

MRC represents 115 Maine member communities that have contracted to have their municipal solid waste (MSW) processed and disposed of at the plant, which utilizes Fiberight technology. The MRC board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding on Dec. 29, 2020 for DTE to purchase the facility, but the buyer couldn’t be named due to ongoing negotiations.

Rob Van Naarden, founder and CEO of DTE, spoke of the company’s commitment to divert incoming waste from landfill during the Jan. 19 meeting.

“From day one, I want to eliminate anything from going into a landfill or incinerator,” he said.

DTE operates several WTE facilities overseas, including operations in Germany, Japan, South Korea, Russia, South Africa and Singapore, and Van Naarden says the company is committed to bringing the same standards to the Hampden, Maine, facility.

“Japanese and German standards are the toughest in the world,” he said, “and we beat those standards. We anticipate adopting the same style of operation” at the Hampden site.

He also noted tip fees would remain consistent and all previous municipal contracts would be honored.

Through the company’s operations, it says it can generate 3 megawatts of net electrical energy, which can then be sold to the local utility.

Van Naarden said it will take DTE 60 to 70 days to close on the facility, and that it would take four to six weeks after closing to restart operations.

Before commencing operations, DTE will conduct minor site improvements.

When the sale is finalized, DTE will be the lone owner of the facility, while MRC will retain ownership of the land the facility is built upon. Fiberight technology will still be used at the plant.

“The facility will restart using the Fiberight technology and, over time, DTE will implement other technology to improve recycling with even greater diversion,” Van Naarden said.