More trash may be headed into the fire: The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center is planning to burn more garbage in order to produce steam for downtown heating demands.

May 28, 2009 (Star Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- ERII | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Just in time for the return of outdoor baseball to Minnesota, the downtown garbage burner is planning to expand next door to the new ballpark.

A proposal making its way through Minneapolis City Hall would allow the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center to burn as much as 20 percent more trash -- about 200 tons more per day -- the first expansion since the burner was built in 1989. The change would occur next summer when the Minnesota Twins would be playing their first season at Target Field.

Opposition so far is limited to environmental activist Leslie Davis, who unsuccessfully sued to block construction of the stadium until the environmental impact of its location was studied. Twins and ballpark officials support the burner plans.

The main reason for burning more trash, said John Sigmond, business manager for Covanta Hennepin Energy, is to provide more energy for the downtown area. The incinerator produces steam and electricity for Xcel Energy, he said, and last February was hooked up to the district heating system that heats and cools a number of large buildings. "It's an opportunity to provide more green renewable energy to the city, and also provide steam to the new Twins stadium," he said. Covanta operates the plant for Hennepin County, the owner.

There's plenty of trash to burn

Carl Michaud, director of environmental services for Hennepin County, said the county has plenty of trash and would rather burn more of it than send it to landfills. The plant is allowed to burn about 1,000 tons per day, on average, yet is designed to burn about 1,200 tons per day. If the proposal is approved, the actual increase would probably be about 10 percent, said Michaud, since the plant's two boilers each need to be shut down in the spring and fall for repair and maintenance.

Michaud said that the environmental study for the new Twins ballpark estimated the impact of burning at the higher rate. "The conclusion was that it wouldn't have any impact on the fans or the ball players or the workers there," he said. "We looked at all the pollutants."

Concerns about emissions

That provides little comfort to Davis, president of Earth Protector and a longtime opponent of the burner. Davis said the environmental study was flawed and inadequate, and did not take into account the possibility that weather conditions and other factors could cause problems.

"My argument all along has been what happens when there's an air alert, combined with emissions from the burner, and increased carbon monoxide from extra traffic," he said.

He said Covanta and Hennepin County have a long history of downplaying any problems or risks.

Michaud said the incinerator emissions are far below state and federal levels of concern.

The Minnesota Ballpark Authority is not concerned about more trash arriving at the incinerator next door. Its executive director, Dan Kenney, said that the company and the county are good neighbors, and that they are moving forward to enhance the burner's appearance.

Last month the county approved nearly $2 million in improvements to roadways and landscaping on the burner's east side near the ballpark. It will also build a new entry door on the building's south side with an airlock to stop odor leaks. "If there's ever a smell, it has to do with trucks entering and leaving the facility," Kenney said. "By changing how the doors are situated in the plant itself, we think that issue is solved."

'Zero impact' for fans

Minnesota Twins President Dave St. Peter said the team is aware of the county's proposal to burn more trash, views it as a positive thing, and plans to use some of its steam for energy. The county has demonstrated there will be "zero impact from a fan perspective" in terms of truck traffic and other possible concerns, St. Peter said. "We have a comfort level that they're on the right track and have a good plan to mitigate any issues."

Burning more trash requires a conditional-use permit amendment from Minneapolis officials. The city Planning Department is studying the proposal and will make a recommendation next week to the Planning Commission, which is scheduled to take up the matter on June 8.

Because action at that level could be appealed to the City Council, council members are circumspect in their opinions. "This is something that I think that we should watch very carefully and consider very carefully," said one of them, Cam Gordon. He issued a public appeal for comment on the proposal.

Lake Street businessman Scott Cramer is one who responded. "I think it's a bad idea," he said, arguing that a high percentage of the garbage headed for the burner is compostable.

The burner sits near the line that divides the wards represented by Council Members Lisa Goodman and Don Samuels, but neither could be reached Wednesday.

The North Loop Neighborhood Association board unanimously voted Wednesday night to support the expansion, based on the understanding that it will not increase emissions. The association also recommended that up to $100,000 in increased profits that would be diverted to a Hennepin County fund for projects in Minneapolis be targeted specifically for projects in the North Loop neighborhood.

If Minneapolis approves the expansion this summer, burning more trash would also require a modified air quality permit from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which could take about nine months.

meersman@startribune.com--612-673-7388 sbrandt@startribune.com --612-673-4438

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