Group forms to close MERC
A task force whose sole mission is to close Maine Energy Recovery Co. in Biddeford has formed with the support of Gov. John Baldacci.
The group, co-chaired by Biddeford Mayor Joanne Twomey and Commissioner John Richardson of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, was formed after word in recent weeks that the controversial trash-to-energy plant was up for sale, Twomey told Mainebiz. Casella Waste Systems of Vermont, the facility's parent company, openly discussed a sale, leading many state and local officials to judge that the company wasn't committed to a five-year contract it signed with Biddeford two years ago that called for shutting down the facility.
The other task force members are Sen. Barry Hobbins (D-Saco), co-chair of the Utilities and Energy Committee; Biddeford City Manager John Bubier; Biddeford Environmental Code Officer Brian Phinney; Peter Morelli, director of the Saco planning and development department; Stephen Goodrich, owner of the Riverdam Mill and CEO of Portland payment-processor PowerPay; and Paul Larkin, Casella's CEO, according to Twomey. Larkin indicated that a local MERC official will stand in for him as needed, she said.
Group members are now working to schedule their first meeting. The collaboration marks the first time in nearly 30 years that all parties associated with MERC are on the same page, Twomey said.
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