Utility Firm Signs Deal to Build Facility

Minergy Detroit LLC and the City of Detroit have signed final contractual agreements that, along with receipt of the state air quality permit, pave the way for construction of the $150 million Clear Horizons wastewater solids recycling facility in the city. The project will replace Detroit’s wastewater solids incinerators.

The facility will recycle 500-600 dry tons per day of wastewater solids into a glass aggregate product, used in manufacturing of concrete additives, ceramic floor tiles, asphalt and industrial abrasives. The plant will also produce about 25 megawatts of electricity.

Construction is expected to start next spring, and should be operational by early 2004.

The Clear Horizons plant will be built on a brownfield site in the city, roughly one mile from Detroit's wastewater treatment facility. Minergy has a contract calling for the plant to accept city wastewater solids for 15 years.

``This important day could not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation by the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan,'' said Wally Kunicki, vice president and general manager of Minergy, and vice president of Wisconsin Energy Corp. ``This facility will reduce air pollution in the region and help address Southeast Michigan's growing wastewater solids disposal problems in an environmentally sensitive way for years to come.''

According to Minergy, the facility will reduce air pollution by 72 percent when compared with the existing wastewater solids incineration facility, with major reductions in dioxin, mercury and other pollutants.

A spokesman for Minergy says the Detroit project is similar to a facility the company operates in Neenah, Wis.

Minergy Corp. is a non-utility subsidiary of Wisconsin Energy Corp. focusing on development and acquisition of recycling and renewable energy projects.