4.16. SR 11-19-2018 EOty1� ,.,�� Request for Action
River
To Item Number
Mayor and Council 4.16
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Consent November 19, 2018 Amanda Bednar,Environmental Coordinator
Item Description Reviewed by
Energy City Commission Memo regarding Great Cal Portner, City Administrator
River Energy Waste to Energy Project Reviewed by
Action Requested
Accept,by motion, the recommendations of the Energy City Commission as outlined in their September
10, 2018, memo to the Elk River City Council.
Background/Discussion
The Energy City Commission met with City Council on June 4, 2018, to discuss the priorities of the
commission and future goals.
Council directed the group to seek solutions and information about the possible discontinuation of
GRE's Elk River Resource Recovery Project.
This memo outlines the Commission's position and information about the project.
Financial Impact
None
Attachments
■ Energy City Commission Memo
The Elk River Vision
A wehoMing community withrevolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional POWERED By
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity INAMIRE1
City°f Memorandum
Elk ,.
r
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Elk River Energy City Commission
Date: September 10, 2018
Subject: Discontinuation of GRE's Waste to Energy Project
Thank you for the opportunity to engage in discussion of the future goals and vision of the Energy
City Commission at your June 4, 2018, Council Workshop. City Council has directed the
Commission to seek solutions for the possible discontinuation of GRE's Elk River Resource
Recovery Project (Pro)ect).
As follow up to the workshop, the Commission's August 15, 2018, meeting revolved around the
topic,impact to the community, and role that the Commission should play in gathering information
and/or providing support for the future of the operation.
The Commission is not in a position to specifically address the day to day operation of the facility
because there are many financial, operational and technical details or risks that require evaluation
before any organization would take over, or continue the operation of the Project. The Commission
is not in a position to determine that the risks are acceptable but supports the Council to encourage
the county and GRE to evaluate the risks and determine how best to support the long-term
operation of the Project.
It is the Commission's position that the Council encourage Sherburne County to support the
continued operation of the Project and seek long-term solutions for the following reasons:
• The Project demonstrates the city's responsibility of managing and disposing of its own
waste and showing a commitment to providing a landfill alternative for Municipal Solid
Waste (MSW).
• The Project helps achieve the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's goals to promote
landfill abatement and encourage environmentally-favorable MSW disposal.
• Waste-to-energy is preferred to landfilling waste, and this Project currently provides this
service for Elk River, as well as Sherburne,Anoka and Hennepin Counties.
POWERED 6T
• Elk River has been designated as Energy City and branded as Powered by Nature. Both
taglines align with the goals and outcomes of the Project by recycling,reducing waste, and
producing renewable electricity by providing landfill alternatives.
• Over the past 30 years of operation, the project has utilized over 10 million tons of MSW as
an energy resource and recovered 742 million pounds of metals (371,000 tons) avoiding the
need for several landfills.
• The project's commitment to landfill alternatives support the city's GreenStep Cities
initiative related to recycling,waste disposal and reducing landfilling. Specific goals include
landfill abatement,increased recycling rates, and waste-to-energy.
N:APublic Bodies\Agenda Packets\11-19-2018\Final\x4.16 at Enerp-City Commission 1Nlemo.docx