A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site of a new waste processing facility in Hamden, Maine, on Oct. 26. According to local reports, construction began on the road and utilities leading to the facility, which will convert municipal solid waste into biofuels. Fiberight, Cantonsville, Maryland, the technology provider on the project with the Municipal Review Committee, a nonprofit group representing the solid waste interests of nearly 187 Maine communities and solid waste districts.

According to the article, Fiberight company has yet to secure final approval of its construction financing as it waits to settle an appeal on its permits from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP).

The appeal, filed by Penobscot Energy Recovery Co. (PERC), Orrington, Maine, and its majority owner and managing general partner, USA Energy Group, along with Exeter Agri-Energy (EAE), in the Kennebec County (Maine) Superior Court seeking to reverse the MDEP issuing a solid waste and air emission licenses to Fiberight and MRC.

Nearly 110 communities have agreed to send their trash to Fiberight’s plant after their contract with PERC ends in 2018. Departing members will either stay with PERC or find other ways to deal with their trash, such as landfills.

The groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the beginning of the review committee’s end of the deal with Fiberight, which includes building the road to the proposed site and its infrastructure. The estimated cost, $5 million, will be paid using money from the tipping fee stabilization fund, which has more than $20 million. Construction is expected to continue through January and resume again in April 2017 and the facility is slated to come online in April 2018.

Among those who attended the ceremony, according to the centralmaine.com article were the Municipal Review Committee board and its executive director, Greg Lounder; Hampden Mayor David Ryder; and Fiberight CEO Craig Stuart-Paul, as well as officials from member communities who will be sending their trash to the new plant, such as Oakland Town Manager Gary Bowman.

According to the article, Fiberight will have to wait to close on its loans for the project until after the appeal is finalized. Covanta Energy Corp., is one of the financial backers of the project. Another financial backer is reportedly on board but not being named a the present time.

Stuart-Paul, founder and CEO of Fiberight, will be among the speakers on a panel taking place during the Renewable Energy from Waste Conference, Nov. 14-16, in Long Beach California. During the session titled “Sharing the Risks and Rewards - The Public Private Partnership (P3) Model,” Nov. 16, from 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., panelists will discuss techniques for successful P3s used in project development. Joining Stuart-Paul on the panel are Chris Koczaja of PHG Energy and Tim Cesarek of Enerkem.