Detroit waste-to-energy plant to cease operations after years of emissions concerns, regulatory issues

Detroit Renewable Power, based in downtown Detroit, will no longer be incinerating trash as part of an agreement with the state, the AP reports.

According to its website, Detroit Renewable Power was a waste-to-energy facility that received and processed up to 3,300 tons per day of municipal solid waste and “serve[d] as a critical part of the Detroit metro area’s waste-management system.” The electricity generated from the site was used to power residential and commercial properties around downtown Detroit.

Detroit Renewable Power, which opened in 1989, recently entered into an agreement with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to resolve violations of air emissions and waste management regulations. Per the agreement, the company must permanently shut down three boilers and pay a $200,000 penalty for air emissions violations. By agreeing to the action, the company isn’t forced to admit any violation of the law.

While its waste-to-energy operations will cease, the company is allowed to conduct temporary solid waste transfer operations at the site until the end of 2021.

Detroit Renewable Energy CEO Todd Grzech said in 2019 that the company would stop its waste-to-energy operations after persistent odors and emissions from the facility drew criticism from both residents and environmental groups. It was in spring of that year that its incinerator was permanently shut down. A 2014 consent judgment with the state mandated the company upgrade the incinerator to manage odors if it was to continue to be operational.

Grzech recently told The Detroit News that the company is contemplating a plan to end its 14-year lease of the city-owned site early and begin what is expected to be a two-year process to demolish the facility.

"We are looking at the beginning of demolition of that facility in a very short period of time. That would cover taking basically everything down to the ground," Grzech told The Detroit News.

Grzech estimated the cost of the demolition to be between $2 million and $3 million.