H-Power overhaul adds to landfill

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Thousands of extra tons of rubbish will be diverted to the Waimanalo Gulch landfill in the next few weeks as the H-Power garbage-to-energy plant in Kapolei is shut down for maintenance.

The work, including an overhaul of the plant's steam turbine, begins tomorrow and is expected to last three weeks, officials said.

The plant normally burns about 2,000 tons of garbage a day, and can generate 46 megawatts of electricity.

Mayor Jeremy Harris wants the city to issue $64 million in private activity revenue bonds to pay for a third boiler that would allow the plant to generate an additional 8 megawatts a day. The plan is subject to City Council approval.

The H-Power plant is owned by Bank of America and operated by New Jersey-based Covanta Energy Corp. under contract with the city. Covanta will spend about $5 million on the routine maintenance project, officials said. The last major turbine overhaul was in 1997.

Harris said the city intends to buy the plant for $37 million in 2010. In the 15 following years, the plant is expected to generate for the city $533 million in electricity and other activities, he said.

H-Power burns about 600,000 tons of waste a year and generates about 7 percent of O'ahu's energy. A third boiler would increase its capacity to 720,000 tons.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.