Board hears plan for

waste-to-energy facility

Redwood County

seeks cooperation from counties throughout southwest Minnesota

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- With promises of cleaner energy and potential job growth on their lips, a delegation from Redwood County made the latest in its ongoing series of sales pitches to Brown County commissioners Tuesday morning.

The idea in its feasibility stage, but already there are some counties in southwestern Minnesota that have passed resolutions supporting it.

If it materializes, the plan will take shape in the form of a garbage incinerator in Lamberton. The proposed incinerator would serve 14 counties in southwestern Minnesota and is expected to cost in between $22-$26 million.

The Redwood County representatives told Brown County commissioners that the facility will be important to waste management and economic development because it could save landfill space and generate employment opportunities.

Some surrounding states, including Iowa and North Dakota, are considering legislation that would prevent Minnesota trash from ending up in their landfills, said Redwood County Environmental Director Jon Mitchell.

Southwestern Minnesota generates about 750 tons of trash a day and 13 of the 29 counties in the region ship trash to landfills across the state line. And the numbers, Mitchell said, keep piling up as long as landfills exist.

The proposed incinerator could be an important source of electrical power and could create steam, which could be sold to a nearby customer. The incinerator could also generate jobs in the Lamberton area.

"A facility like this could be a very good neighbor," Mitchell told commissioners.

Some Brown County commissioners appeared to have doubts about the idea.

"If this is such a good business, why is private industry doing it?" asked Commissioner Charles Guggisberg.

Redwood County Commissioner Brian Kletscher replied, "They don't think that one county can generate that much garbage. Right now, most of it's going to Lyon County. They tried to build one there but ran into a political game with some people in Marshall."

"If this is such a money-maker, why aren't other people building them?" asked Board Chairman Charlie Berg.

Kletscher said he knew of a similar facility near Rochester that is undergoing an expansion.

"They kind of got a bad rap in the early '90s because they were putting chemicals into the air through smokestacks," Kletscher said about incinerators.

Questions were also raised on who would pay for the incinerator.

Redwood County Commissioner Brian Kletscher said funding could come from federal and state levels and through bonding available through the Southwest Regional Solid Waste Commission, a 14-county joint powers organization that would own and operate the incinerator if it were built.

Steve Krinke, director of the Lamberton Economic Development Corporation, said people are already calling asking for jobs. He said the location for the project is also important because it is close to the DM&E and Prairie Line railroad routes, federal trunk highways 14 and 71 and Redwood County Highway 6, which is strong enough to accommodate trucks.

Mitchell said the plan is still in its feasibility stage and could come back to Brown County if it proceeds.

Mitchell said the idea for the project grew from discussion with the Lamberton EDC nearly 1 1/2 years ago. Members of that group had just toured a similar incinerator near Alexandria that serves two counties and makes money selling steam to 3M and the city's hospital.

Mitchell gave Brown County commissioners a copy of a draft resolution supporting the plan.

"I know we've got several phases to go. This is just the first phase and if we're successful, we'll come back," Mitchell said after the meeting.

County Administrator Chuck Enter said the resolution will go on the county board's agenda "at a future meeting."

"We are very open to ideas and this is a huge project they're proposing," Enter explained. "Fifteen years ago, we did a similar study for Brown County, but now the focus is on a more regional level."

Brown County has one landfill near Essig, which has been operating since the early 1980s. Planning and Zoning Administrator Jane Starz said the current site takes in about 39,000 cubic yards of trash a year and still has about 40 years to go before it is completely filled up.

In other action, commissioners passed the resolution supporting Nicollet County's efforts to get federal highway funding for CSAH 5 with no discussion.