Politicians' Positions on the Waste-to-Energy Incinerator

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Frederick County Commissioner Candidate Kirby Delauter

In favor of the waste-to-energy incinerator

Here's a question sent to Delauter on Sept. 30:

From your website: "the Incinerator can be placed on 20-30 acres of land with minimal environmental impact." What does "minimal environmental impact" mean? And, I imagine (since you've been following this discussion) that you're aware that Frederick County will still need to either long-haul or build another landfill even with the incinerator (10-15% of trash = non-processible material.) So, why don't we spend our time, money and effort on decreasing the NEED to dispose of materials in the first place? Also — if you're elected to office, will you support continued funding for the Office of Sustainability?

Delauter's response:

I'll put it this way, it would have no more environmental impact than building say..........a High School. Wouldn't you agree? Same type of building, likely to be less impervious parking areas, less mass grading. In this comparison one could assume you are against building any new schools then, right? My opinion on the office of sustainability. While it may be a worthy cause in sound economic times, I feel in these economic times that are anything but sound, we've done without one up until this point in time, so..............I think we can manage without it. There are far more pressing issues in which to place our focus. — Kirby

Kirby, do YOU know of any high schools with 350-foot smokestacks that emit 200 chemicals and that are 2,000 degrees?

"[The incinerator] lets Frederick County control its own destiny."

The incinerator will be owned—and profited by—the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, NOT Frederick County! Kirby Delauter prefers EastAlco (behind Carroll Manor Elementary School) as the location for the incinerator and agrees with Jan Gardner on incinerator finances. He is sorely misinformed! He does not think the incinerator is going to cost Frederick anything! In this recording, go to 34:30 (discussion starts at 27:50).

Someone needs to tell Kirby to read Article XV of the service contract!

  1. Frederick and Carroll counties will be paying over $22M PER YEAR in operating fees alone. (To start.)
  2. And then there are those pesky passthrough costs of several MILLION DOLLARS per year.
  3. And don't forget about uncontrollable circumstances, and major maintenance and retrofits. (A blank check to Wheelabrator.)
  4. And in case anyone forgets: these costs are in addition to the estimated bond debt of $33 MILLION PER YEAR FOR 30 YEARS.
  5. And then the counties have to pay any "administrative fees" the NMWDA bills.
  6. And in the signed contract, the NMWDA has given itself MORE MONEY than originally planned. For brokering the deal they will be getting $517,800 PER YEAR from Wheelabrator and that escalates at 3% per year, just like the operating fees!

Sent 09/28/10 to Frederick County commissioner candidate Kirby Delauter and others:

Mr. Delauter,

Will you please explain your statement since I still don't see the basis for increase in projected savings? Where in Mr. Marschner's letter does it explain why the supposed cost savings jumped from ~$42M to ~$422M? Also the only choices evaluated are long-hauling vs. incineration. No professional study of less expensive alternatives has been presented, just tax-and-spend incineration which has been promoted by the NMWDA.

Also, have you had a chance to read the financial obligations contained within the contract? You're on record stating the facility will not cost Frederick anything, but I hope by now you realize the electricity revenue will not cover even 1/2 of the annual costs to operate, maintain and to then service the debt of the facility. And basic economics tells us that tip fees can only be raised so high before haulers will take their waste elsewhere. (Isn't this what happened last year when CC raised its tipping fees?)

The only thing left to pay for this facility is the SBC. Is your campaign position one in support of this increase? Thank you for any clarification of your statement and your position you can provide.

Sent 10/26/10 to Kirby Delauter and others:

I never received an answer from Mr. Delauter to my questions about the "financial projections" of the Regional Trash Incinerator.  But perhaps the County's own documents tell the real story about the projected costs and savings....

"Utilities and Solid Waste – Renewable Energy (Electricity) Contribution Projection by 2024 Projections of costs and savings A preliminary estimate of one-time costs, ongoing costs and ongoing savings based on implementation of the recommendations is provided in a chart titled “Annual Projected Costs and On-going Savings” in Appendix K. It is important to acknowledge that 15-year projections such as this are done without the benefit of a crystal ball and not all capital costs are known at this time. The further out projections go, the less reliable they are. However, this chart does provide a general order of magnitude to investment and savings that are possible with the implementation of this Plan." scroll to 8:  Frederick and Carroll County Waste-to-Energy Project

Kirby, HOW are WE in control? Reject this member of the developers' dream team!

On another note, Delauter says he will bid on county contracts if elected commissioner. County attorney says 'there will be issues that need to be addressed.