Irwindale : Setback for Waste Plant

Pacific Waste Management Corp., which is seeking permission to build a massive waste-to-energy plant in Irwindale, has been handed another setback by the state Energy Commission committee that is hearing the case.

The committee ruled that the company must line up waste contracts to meet 75% of the plant’s needs before hearings can resume on a construction permit. Hearings already were suspended because of the company’s failure to acquire credits to offset the proposed plant’s pollutants.

Garret Shean, commission hearing officer, said that the committee will consider terminating the permit application unless Pacific Waste meets the air quality and waste contract requirements by Oct. 1.

Pacific Waste has the option of appealing the committee decision to the full commission. Meanwhile, Pacific Waste is seeking legislative help through a bill that would remove the Energy Commission’s authority to require waste contracts.

The company has argued that it is impractical to obtain commitments from private and municipal waste haulers to bring their trash to the plant years in advance of its opening. But the commission staff has said that it must know where the company intends to get 3,000 tons of trash a day to burn for electricity so that it can analyze trash disposal alternatives.