Earthcare presents $34M biochar facility plan for industrial site in Cougar Drive
April 14, 2025 | Hanover City, York County, Pennsylvania
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The Hanover Borough Stormwater Authority convened on April 8, 2025, to discuss significant developments regarding a new facility aimed at enhancing local waste management and energy production. The meeting featured a presentation from Earthcare, a company specializing in sustainable waste processing, which outlined plans for a pre-engineered metal building designed for carbonization and gasification processes.
The facility, proposed to be located along Cougar Drive in an industrial zone owned by the borough, is expected to encompass approximately 30,000 square feet. Earthcare representatives detailed the operational aspects of the facility, including the use of gasifiers, thermal oxidizers, and biofilters to manage emissions and odors effectively. They emphasized that the entire system would be contained, ensuring that any air released would be treated to prevent excess odors.
A key point of discussion was the facility's potential to significantly reduce fossil fuel usage by utilizing volatile energy from feedstock during the gasification process. Earthcare noted that once operational, the facility would operate with minimal fossil fuel reliance, contributing to a carbon-negative outcome.
The company also clarified that while they generate syngas during operations, this energy would be used internally for heating and power generation rather than sold back to gas companies. The facility is projected to have a low truck traffic impact, with an estimated ten trucks per day, which is less than the expected traffic from the borough's Department of Public Works (DPW) operations.
Financially, the project is estimated to cost around $34 million, with Earthcare planning to finance it through state revolving funds. The collaboration between Earthcare and the borough aims to create synergies between the new facility and the DPW complex, enhancing operational efficiency and resource sharing.
The meeting concluded with a positive outlook on the project, highlighting its potential benefits for the borough's waste management strategy and environmental sustainability efforts. Further discussions and planning will continue as the project moves forward.
The facility, proposed to be located along Cougar Drive in an industrial zone owned by the borough, is expected to encompass approximately 30,000 square feet. Earthcare representatives detailed the operational aspects of the facility, including the use of gasifiers, thermal oxidizers, and biofilters to manage emissions and odors effectively. They emphasized that the entire system would be contained, ensuring that any air released would be treated to prevent excess odors.
A key point of discussion was the facility's potential to significantly reduce fossil fuel usage by utilizing volatile energy from feedstock during the gasification process. Earthcare noted that once operational, the facility would operate with minimal fossil fuel reliance, contributing to a carbon-negative outcome.
The company also clarified that while they generate syngas during operations, this energy would be used internally for heating and power generation rather than sold back to gas companies. The facility is projected to have a low truck traffic impact, with an estimated ten trucks per day, which is less than the expected traffic from the borough's Department of Public Works (DPW) operations.
Financially, the project is estimated to cost around $34 million, with Earthcare planning to finance it through state revolving funds. The collaboration between Earthcare and the borough aims to create synergies between the new facility and the DPW complex, enhancing operational efficiency and resource sharing.
The meeting concluded with a positive outlook on the project, highlighting its potential benefits for the borough's waste management strategy and environmental sustainability efforts. Further discussions and planning will continue as the project moves forward.
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