City staff are recommending Ottawa be part of the world's first commercial plant to convert trash into electricity.
Plasco Energy CEO Rod Bryden briefed Ottawa city councillors on Tuesday and said a proposed plant for the Capital would handle more than 135,000 tons of garbage and produce 25 megawatts of clean energy by applying heat to garbage in order to produce gases that can be converted into electrical power.
The Capital is currently the site of a testing plant built in partnership by Plasco and the City of Ottawa. The proposal to build a new facility in the Capital would take a large chunk out of the amount of garbage that currently sits in Ottawa's landfills.
"The extended life of the landfill facility, which is of immense monetary value to the City, is really a return for us," said Kent Kirkpatrick, Ottawa's city manager.
If the plan goes through to build a new commercial plant in the Capital, the City will pay Plasco about $8 million to take Ottawa's trash and convert it into green energy. The company will then sell the hydro it produces to the province.
In return, Bryden says he will take on the risk and construction costs of building the new facility. The City could also get more than $3 million a year in royalties and other revenues.
"The City stepping forward is without question the reason that Plasco is, I think without any doubt, the leading company in the world today in an alternative method of treating waste," said Bryden.
Despite delays in the test plant and its operation, Bryden says he thinks it will take 18-24 months to build a commercial plant in Ottawa at a cost of about $120-125 million.
If the proposal is approved, the new facility will likely be located near the current landfill site on Trail Road in Ottawa's west end.
City council is expected to vote on the issue June 25.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Paul Brent
Watch CTV Ottawa's EXTENDED COVERAGE: Plasco Energy CEO Rod Bryden speaks to Paul Brent about possible delays and funding for the new plant.
