NJ-based Covanta shutting two biomass plants in Maine

Morristown NJ-based Covanta Energy Corp. is closing two biomass waste-to-energy plants in Maine in March—a decision driven by plummeting energy prices.

WasteDIVE reports:

The Jonesboro and West Enfield plants, which burn wood to generate electricity, collectively produce 49 megawatts of power and employ 44 people, as reported in Waste360.

According to the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine, the closings may necessitate cutting 2,500 logging industry jobs in that state. The association asked Maine Gov. Paul LePage to help strengthen the state’s biomass electricity production efforts.
Dive Insight:

As is the case with the commodities industry, renewed energy for utility is an area that has its ups and downs, based on markets and the economy — and the downward spiral is affecting other dependent stakeholders, in this case the logging industry.

“Unfortunately, this happens with some frequency in the biomass industry when energy prices are not sufficient to cover the costs of operation and fuel supply,” according to a Covanta statement. “We have experienced similar situations in the past and resumed operations when the economics improved. We will continue to evaluate the future of the facilities.”

In the meantime, Covanta appears to be forging ahead with its waste-to-energy focus in other regions; having just extended a contract with a WTE facility in York, PA until 2035, where $30 million is planned in upgrades.

But the closings in Maine will be a major setback for that state’s logging industry, which has made a long-time livelihood of selling woody biomass waste from logging operations to plants.



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Funding for Stockton U. satellite campus projects in A.C.

Two major Atlantic City projects received approval from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority today for incentives through the Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant Program, Andrew George reports in NJBIZ
Island Campus Redevelopment Associates LLC, a joint venture between the New Brunswick Development Company and AC Devco, received approval for two separate ERG grants to redevelop several blocks in the southern end of the city that it hopes will eventually serve as a satellite campus for Stockton University.
The EDA voted to approve a $38.4 million ERG for the construction of a new, five-story dormitory building that will house approximately 500 students, and a separate 56,000-square-foot academic building located across the street. Roughly 7,000 square feet of retail space will also be included in this portion of the project.
The dormitory building will comprise 121 total units featuring single- and double-occupant bedrooms. Stockton plans on offering students a shuttle service to its main campus in Galloway.
In a related but separate vote, the EDA also moved to approve a $29.9 million ERG for the construction of a new 332,500-square-foot, seven-story parking garage that will ultimately serve Stockton students and faculty as well as employees of South Jersey Industries. The garage, which is slated to offer 886 total spaces, will also feature approximately 7,500 square feet of retail space on its ground floor.
Atlantic City also saw a major ERG award approved for South Inlet Partners Urban Renewal, the limited liability company formed by Boraie Development for its proposed mixed-use project in the city’s South Inlet neighborhood.
The EDA approved a $24.4 million ERG award for the construction of three new four-story buildings that will feature 250 residential units, 7,500 square feet of retail space, 85,000 square feet of parking and 10,000 square feet of common space.
The project will sit on what is currently eight acres of vacant land along Atlantic Avenue. Of the planned 250 residential units, 50 will be marked for affordable housing.
Other projects approved for incentives Tuesday include:
Company: Aralez Pharmaceuticals US Inc.
Location: West Windsor Township
Award: 10-year, $5.6 million Grow NJ
Benefit: $30.3 million to the state over 20 years
Notable: Would create 90 new full-time jobs.
Company: C2 Imaging LLC
Location: Jersey City
Award: 10-year, $11.5 million Grow NJ
Benefit: $11.6 million to the state over 20 years
Notable: Would create 110 new full-time jobs.
Company: Fabuwood Cabinetry Corp.
Location: Newark
Award: 10-year, $39.9 million Grow NJ
Benefit: $44.1 million to the state over 20 years
Notable: Would create 276 new full-time jobs, retain 336 full-time positions.
Company: FXDirect Dealer LLC
Location: Jersey City
Award: 10-year, $9 million Grow NJ
Benefit: $88.4 million to the state over 20 years
Notable: Would create 121 new full-time jobs.
Company: Linde North America Inc.
Location: Bridgewater
Award: 10-year, $11 million Grow NJ
Benefit: $131.1 million to the state over 20 years
Notable: Would create 150 new full-time jobs, retain 450 full-time jobs.
Company: NYK Line Inc.
Location: Secaucus
Award: 10-year, $2.8 million Grow NJ
Benefit: $33 million to the state over 20 years
Notable: Would retain 114 full-time jobs.
Company: Rainforest Distribution Corp.
Location: Bayonne
Award: 10-year, $2.4 million Grow NJ
Benefit: $1 million to the state over 20 years
Notable: Would create 40 new full-time jobs.
Company: Showman Fabricators Inc.
Location: Bayonne
Award: 10-year, $8.7 million Grow NJ
Benefit: $4 million to the state over 20 years
Notable: Would create 90 new full-time jobs





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NJ Governor weighing merits of paint recycling legislation


[Modified on January 14 to clarify program costs]

If Gov. Chris Christie signs S-1420 (Beach), a bill sent to him last night after final passage in the state Assembly, New Jerseyans will soon have a way to recycle used indoor or exterior paint (five gallons or less) under a program to be administered and promoted by paint manufacturers.

The legislation requires paint manufacturers to “develop and implement a plan for an architectural paint
stewardship program that is designed to minimize public sector
involvement in the management of post-consumer architectural paint
by reducing its generation, promoting its reuse and recycling, and
negotiating and executing agreements for its collection, transportation,
reuse, recycling, burning for energy recovery, and disposal using
environmentally sound management practices.” 

In establishing collection sites, the plans would “use of geographic
information modeling, such that at least 90 percent of State residents
have a permanent collection site within 15 miles of their residence,
that permanent collection sites be established for every 30,000
residents of a population center, and that collection sites be distributed
to provide convenient and equitable access for residents within each
population center.”

Program costs would be covered by a ‘paint stewardship assessment’ added by retailers or distributors to the cost of each can of paint covered by the program.


Similar programs are in effect in Canada, California and Oregon.



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Fast-tracked, beach-access-rule bill sent to Gov. Christie

Governor Christie is expected to sign a bill sent to his desk last night that re-establishes the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) rules governing beach and waterfront access. 

S-3321,, which traveled through both houses of the New Jersey Legislature in just four days, would restore rules struck down by a state appeals court.

The court ruled that the DEP had stretched beyond the authority granted by that the Legislature when it adopted its latest regulations on waterfront access and development projects relying on that access. 

For more on the legislation, see: Trenton rushing to restore DEP waterfront access rules 

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Solar roof warranty bill sent to NJ Gov. Christie’s desk

The NJ Assembly last tonight, on a 42-31 vote, gave final approval to S-564 (Smith/Bateman) that establishes a Solar Roof Installation Warranty Program in the state Economic Development Authority. 

The legislation transfers $2 million from societal benefits charge to initially fund program.


We profiled the bill last March in: New Jersey legislation seeks to plug holes in solar roofs


It now  goes to Gov. Chris Christie who has until Jan. 19 to sign or reject it.
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Last chance for these NJ environment and energy bills


Today is the final voting session of the New Jersey Legislature’s 216th session. Both the Senate and Assembly face a long list of bills. If approved, the bills will move to the governor’s desk. Those that don’t make the cut will expire as a new legislative term begins tomorrow, January 12.

Below are the environment and energy bills posted for a final showdown in one or both houses today. [Click here for energy and environment bills sent to the Governor on 1/7] 

SENATE VOTING SESSION
12:00 Noon
A-943  Singleton, T. (D-7); Conaway, H. (D-7);
Moriarty, P.D. (D-4); Green, J. (D-22)
Permits small businesses to qualify for loans from
NJEDA for costs of energy audit and making energy efficiency or conservation
improvements.
Related Bill: S-2967
      
A-1726  Eustace, T. (D-38); Lagana, J.A. (D-38);
Mosquera, G.M. (D-4) ;
Amends “Flood Hazard Area Control Act” to
require DEP to take certain actions concerning delineations of flood hazard
areas and floodplains.
Related Bill: S-308
      
A-1958  Riley, C.M. (D-3); Chivukula, U.J. (D-17);
Wilson, G.L. (D-5)
Concerns exemptions from permits for certain
agricultural activities under “Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act”. Related Bill: S-1848
   
A-2586  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Quijano, A. (D-20);
Benson, D.R. (D-14)
Establishes “Energy Infrastructure Study
Commission.”
Related Bill: S-1796
     Also Posted today in the Assembly
S-1796  Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Establishes “Energy Infrastructure Study
Commission.”
Related Bill: A-2586
      
S-1848  Allen, D.B. (R-7); Van Drew, J. (D-1)
Concerns exemptions from permits for certain
agricultural activities under “Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act”.
Related Bill: A-1958
     
S-2620  Oroho, S.V. (R-24); Turner, S.K. (D-15)
 “New Jersey
Rural Microenterprise Act.”
Related Bill: A-2839
      
S-2820  Van Drew, J. (D-1); Oroho, S.V. (R-24)
Requires drivers to slow down before passing slow
moving vehicles; establishes Statewide educational campaign on rural roadway
safety; updates agriculture-related motor vehicle laws to reflect current
industry practices.
Related Bill: A-3927
     
S-2967  Van Drew, J. (D-1)
Permits small businesses to qualify for loans from
NJEDA for costs of energy audit and making energy efficiency or conservation
improvements.
Related Bill: A-943
     
S-3321  Smith, B. (D-17); Van Drew, J. (D-1);
Bateman, C. (R-16)
Authorizes DEP to require public access to waterfront
and adjacent shoreline as condition of waterfront development approvals and
CAFRA permits.
Related Bill: A-4927
     
_______________________________________________________________________ 
ASSEMBLY VOTING SESSION
01/11/16  1:00 PM
A-1603  Spencer, L.G. (D-29); Eustace, T. (D-38);
Quijano, A. (D-20) 
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in
paint stewardship program.
Related Bill: S-1420
      
A-1728  Eustace, T. (D-38); Benson, D.R. (D-14);
Muoio, E.M. (D-15)
Directs installation of electric vehicle charging
stations at service areas on State’s toll roads.
Related Bill: S-1794
      
A-1779  McKeon, J.F. (D-27); Spencer, L.G. (D-29);
Giblin, T.P. (D-34) 
Clarifies that certain types of sewage and sewage
sludge do not constitute hazardous substances under “Spill Compensation
and Control Act.”
     
A-2586  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Quijano, A. (D-20);
Benson, D.R. (D-14)
Establishes “Energy Infrastructure Study
Commission.”
Related Bill: S-17
     Also posted today in the Senate
      
A-2839  Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3); Space, P. (R-24);
Phoebus, G. (R-24)
Authorizes State Agriculture Development Committee to
permit operation of certain micro- enterprises on certain preserved farms;
designated as “New Jersey Rural Microenterprise Act.”  Related Bill: S-2620
      
A-3352  Eustace, T. (D-38)
Establishes “Milkweed for Monarchs” program.
     
A-3353  Eustace, T. (D-38)
Establishes “Adopt a Monarch Butterfly
Waystation” program.
      
A-3850  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Eustace, T. (D-38);
Mazzeo, V. (D-2)
Requires BPU to establish procedures allowing electric
power and gas supplier customers to switch energy suppliers.  Related Bill: S-2467
     
A-3944  Garcia, C.G. (D-33); McKeon, J.F. (D-27);
Auth, R. (R-39); Eustace, T. (D-38) 
Allows cultivation of commercial shellfish species in
certain coastal and inner harbor waters for research and educational purposes. Related Bill: S-2617
      
A-4093  Eustace, T. (D-38); Mukherji, R. (D-33);
Jasey, M.M. (D-27) 
Prohibits certain possession, sale, offering for sale,
trade or distribution of shark fins.
Related Bill: S-2057
     
A-4186  Eustace, T. (D-38); McKeon, J.F. (D-27);
Spencer, L.G. (D-29) 
Establishes “Solar Roof Installation Warranty
Program” in EDA and transfers $2 million from societal benefits charge to
initially fund program. Related Bill: S-564
      
A-4197  Andrzejczak, B. (D-1); Spencer, L.G. (D-29);
McKeon, J.F. (D-27) 
Implements 2014 constitutional dedication of CBT
revenues for certain environmental purposes; revises State’s open space,
farmland, and historic preservation programs. Related Bill: S-2769
     
A-4690  Pintor Marin, E. (D-29); Spencer, L.G.
(D-29); Sumter, S.E. (D-35)
Delays certain documentation submission deadlines under
certain business tax credit programs. Related Bill: S-3182
      
A-4704  Diegnan, P.J. (D-18)
Provides up to $25 million in tax credits under
Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant Program for certain infrastructure at
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
Related Bill: S-2880
      
A-4927  Spencer, L.G. (D-29); Rumana, S.T. (R-40)
Authorizes DEP to require public access to waterfront
and adjacent shoreline as condition of waterfront development approvals and
CAFRA permits.
Related Bill: S-3321
      
ACR-1  Prieto, V. (D-32); Wisniewski, J.S. (D-19);
Singleton, T. (D-7) 
Amends State Constitution to dedicate all State
revenues from motor fuels and petroleum products gross receipts tax to
transportation system.
Related Bill: SCR-190
     
ACR-249  McKeon, J.F. (D-27); Spencer, L.G. (D-29);
Eustace, T. (D-38) 
Determines that DEP’s proposal to revise Flood Hazard
Area Control Act Rules, Coastal Zone Management Rules, and Stormwater
Management Rules is inconsistent with legislative intent. Related Bill: SCR-180   
S-564  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Establishes “Solar Roof Installation Warranty
Program” in EDA and transfers $2 million from societal benefits charge to
initially fund program.
Related Bill: A-4186
      
S-1420  Beach, J. (D-6); Whelan, J. (D-2); Smith, B.
(D-17); Sweeney, S.M. (D-3) 
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in
paint stewardship program.
Related Bill: A-1603
      
S-2617  Cardinale, G. (R-39)
Requires DEP to adopt regulations to allow cultivation
of commercial shellfish species in certain coastal and inner harbor waters for
research, educational, or restoration purposes.
Related Bill: A-3944
      
S-2769  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Implements 2014 constitutional dedication of CBT
revenues for certain environmental purposes; revises State’s open space,
farmland, and historic preservation programs.
Related Bill: A-4197
SCR-180  Lesniak, R.J. (D-20); Smith, B. (D-17);
Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Determines that DEP’s proposal to revise Flood Hazard
Area Control Act Rules, Coastal Zone Management Rules, and Stormwater
Management Rules is inconsistent with legislative intent.  Related Bill: ACR-249
    

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EnviroPolitics. We track environmental/energy bills–from introduction to enactment.




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