FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA — (October 24, 2018) — The Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) has selected Wheelabrator Technologies to deliver sustainable waste management and clean, renewable baseload energy to the region for at least eight more years.
Under the agreement, SPSA, which represents eight localities – the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach and the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton, will have the option to extend the contract twice for up to five additional years with each extension. “SPSA’s most important priority is to satisfy the waste disposal needs of member localities by providing the highest quality of service at the lowest reasonable cost,” said Liesl DeVary, executive director of SPSA.
As a significant component of waste management solutions worldwide, waste-to-energy facilities such as Wheelabrator Portsmouth, are recognized for playing a valuable role in reducing greenhouse gases through landfill methane avoidance, fossil fuel generation displacement and recycling of metals, as well as being vital contributors to sound, local sustainable solid waste management.
“Our decision to select Wheelabrator Technologies as the most sustainable choice for SPSA members is in keeping with our mission to dispose of waste in an environmentally sound manner,” said John Keifer, chairman of the SPSA Board of Directors. “Waste-to-energy is a cost-effective and proven method of post-recycled waste disposal supported by the U.S. EPA hierarchy over landfilling. Wheelabrator will reduce our reliance on landfills while creating renewable energy for nearby communities and the U.S. Navy. We look forward to continuing our positive relationship with Wheelabrator.”
The U.S. EPA has endorsed waste-to-energy as a renewable source of energy, an alternative to fossil fuels, like natural gas, coal and oil, and a preferred method for waste disposal before landfilling within its waste management hierarchy.
Currently, Wheelabrator Portsmouth provides dependable, cost-effective, environmentally safe disposal of post-recycled waste for the Southside Hampton Roads communities, using everyday local waste as fuel to create 60 MW of clean, renewable energy, enough to power nearly 32,000 homes.
Since 2010, Wheelabrator has met the waste disposal needs of these communities, processing approximately 680,000 tons of post-recycled waste each and every year.
“Wheelabrator is an integral part of the region’s environmental infrastructure, diverting waste from landfills to provide residents and businesses with sustainable waste management and local, low-carbon energy, and we look forward to continuing our service as the most sustainable option for Hampton Roads over the long term,” said Michael Dougherty, market manager for Wheelabrator Technologies. “This award also supports our commitment to providing critical steam heat and renewable energy to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard while continuing to play a key role in reducing Hampton Roads’ dependence on landfills and supporting the local economy.”
Wheelabrator is an important economic partner to the Hampton Roads region – providing 145 full-time (direct and indirect) jobs and $68 million in economic stimulus in the form of capital investments and the purchase of goods and services, local property taxes, and support for community programs and causes.
About SPSA
SPSA is the regional solid waste collection and disposal agency for over one million residents in the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach and the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton, all located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. SPSA’s disposal system includes a Regional Landfill in Suffolk and nine Transfer Stations in various locations through the geographic territory served by SPSA, accompanied by a Transportation Operation, a Fleet Maintenance Facility, a Tire Shredder Facility, a White Goods Program, and a Household Hazardous Waste Program.
About Wheelabrator
Wheelabrator Technologies is the second largest US waste-to-energy business, and is an industry leader in the conversion of everyday residential and business waste into clean energy. Wheelabrator currently has a platform of 26 strategically located assets across the US and UK —19 waste-to-energy facilities (three under construction), three waste fuel facilities as well as four ash monofills. We also recover metals for recycling at two advanced metals recovery systems and one central upgrade facility. Wheelabrator currently has an annual waste processing capacity of over 8 million tons, and a total combined electric generating capacity of 782 megawatts—enough energy to power 700,000 homes. The company’s vision to develop, deliver and realize the potential of clean energy speaks to Wheelabrator’s ongoing commitment to the development of clean energy solutions for its customers and local communities. Wheelabrator is owned by Energy Capital Partners, an energy infrastructure-focused private equity firm. For more on Energy Capital Partners, please visit www.ecpartners.com. For more on Wheelabrator, please visit www.wtienergy.com.
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