Energy Company to close two biomass plants in Maine
WEST ENFIELD, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — New Jersey based Covanta energy company announced Thursday it is shuttering two of it’s biomass power plants in Maine.
Covanta Energy confirmed that decision Thursday afternoon. Covanta, which is based in Morristown, New Jersey operates biomass power plants in West Enfield and Jonesboro.
They take in wood chips and other waste wood and burn it to produce electricity. In a statement, Covanta Spokesman James Regan said
“Unfortunately, this happens with some frequency in the biomass industry when energy prices are not sufficient to cover the costs of operation and fuel supply. We have experienced similar situations in the past and resumed operations when the economics improved. We will continue to evaluate the future of the facilities.”
The news hits hard for the workers at the plant but it has ripple effects far beyond that too. The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine says there are 2500 logging jobs impacted by this shutdown. The trade group issued a press release urging lawmakers to take action.
