DETROIT, Sept. 20, 2001 — The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality today issued an air-use permit to the Clear Horizons wastewater solids recycling facility, clearing the way for construction of the $150 million plant in southwest Detroit early next year.
The facility, to be built and operated by Minergy Detroit LLC, will use a patented recycling technology to process wastewater solids now incinerated by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. The new recycling plant will reduce pollution by 72 percent from the existing facility.
The Minergy process will recycle 500 to 600 tons per day of wastewater solids into a glass aggregate construction product, used in manufacturing of ceramic floor tiles, sand blasting grit and other abrasives. The plant will also produce about 25 megawatts of electricity.
The Clear Horizons plant will be built on a brownfield site in the City of Detroit, alongside the Detroit River in the Delray area. Minergy has a contract calling for the plant to accept city wastewater solids for 15 years.
Delray area neighborhood and Detroit development officials strongly supported the Clear Horizons project, saying it will help reduce air pollution from the current facility. The new plant will face restrictions on 22 different pollutants. The final permit requires Minergy to add a carbon injection system for mercury and dioxin control, an addition to the draft permit that had been considered by the department. Mercury emissions will be significantly reduced from the amount emitted by the current facility, according to documents prepared by DEQ staff.
"City of Detroit and State of Michigan officials, working together, are helping pave the way for a cutting-edge facility that will reduce air pollution in the Delray area and be a catalyst for rejuvenating a brownfield site, while addressing the region's growing wastewater solid disposal needs through recycling," said Minergy Vice President Rick O'Conor. "They should be commended for creating a win-win-win for the environment and the entire region."
Plant construction could begin early next year, with startup in 2004. Under the contract, the city will be able to evaluate the plant's operation with extensive post-startup testing before making a final commitment to the process.
Minergy Corp. is a non-utility subsidiary of Wisconsin Energy Corp., focusing on development and acquisition of energy projects. To learn more about Minergy and the Detroit facility, visit http://www.minergy.com/underdev/detroit.htm .
SOURCE: Minergy Detroit LLC
