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Minutes - Regular Meeting <br /> Solid Waste Advisory Board <br /> August 7, 2008 <br /> Approved September 4, 2008 <br /> We' ve looked at most of these technologies . We' ve had these more cursory look-sees <br /> and I don' t know why people are spending so much money on studying things that <br /> don' t work . The Hawaii County facility was a bona fide procurement, but because of <br /> the size it was too expensive for them . The two in Maryland are real and probably <br /> going to go forward . This study compared rail haul to Mass Burn. <br /> Building blocks for a project include : Do you control the waste, willingness to sign up <br /> for this, do you have a site, a landfill for ash and bypass, capital, financability, a <br /> technology that works, compatibility with a high level of recycling and the political <br /> will . <br /> Orange County is only 180 tons a day and it could go lower, the $50 per ton is not <br /> super high . A 3004on a day plant will pencil out at about $100 per ton. County <br /> sponsorship would be needed . <br /> Wilson notes that New Hanover County NC is looking at shutting their incinerator <br /> down now that the debt service is just about paid off . He asks that wouldn' t another <br /> conclusion be this [waste-to - energy] is only economically feasible if partnered with <br /> another waste generator ? If there were some way to increase the tonnage available <br /> ith another generator then it would come more economically <br /> through partnering w <br /> feasible . <br /> Gershman replies that this is true . <br /> Wilson further notes that when you talk to the Board, this discussion of size will be <br /> important. How many acres do you need five, ten or twenty ? <br /> Gershman states that six to ten is good for a facility of this size unless you need to put <br /> it on a smaller site . <br /> Sassaman asks how rigorous are the permitting processes . <br /> Gershman states that it' s a lot worse than most other siting processes . <br /> Vickers asks with a reasonable process how long would it take . <br /> Gershman states that it takes two years to build it. It takes six months to finance it <br /> and about a year and a half to permit it. Then a year to procure it and negotiate with <br /> your contractor . There would also be a year to do a study and get ready for the <br /> procurement. This is about a six year project because you are starting from nothing. <br /> 7 <br />