Irwindale : Waste-Energy Plant Hearing

Opponents of a proposed waste-to-energy plant in Irwindale today will urge the state Energy Commission to either terminate the project or at least put some additional obstacles in its way as part of the licensing process.

A committee headed by Commissioner Barbara Crowley will conduct a public hearing at 10 a.m. at City Hall. The committee earlier this year suspended proceedings on an application by Pacific Waste Management Corp. to build the plant until the company lines up a waste supply for the plant and fulfills air-pollution requirements by obtaining air emission credits. Since then, the company has filed suit to eliminate the waste supply requirement and has decided to split the plant into two phases. By reducing the initial size of the plant from burning 3,000 tons of trash a day to 2,250 tons, Pacific Waste has sought to reduce the number of air emission credits, called “offsets,” needed.

The Energy Commission called the hearing to determine how to handle Pacific Waste’s revised application. Miller Brewing Co., which opposes the project, will argue that the changes require Pacific Waste to file a new application. The City of Duarte will ask the commission to compel Pacific Waste to redo some of its environmental studies to respond to questions about the project.