Members of the Central Waste Management Commission expect a response to their latest counter-offer regarding Plasco Energy Group's proposed gasification plant near Penhold by late this month.Red Deer County Div. 4 Coun. David Hoar, a member of the commission, said he would not comment on specifics of the counter-offer, which was agreed to at the commission's Oct. 20 meeting.ìThey made us an offer. We made them a counter-offer,î Hoar told the Gazette, saying it would be inappropriate to discuss the ongoing negotiations. ìWe are waiting for their response to our counter-offer.îInnisfail town councillor Brian Spiller, who also attended the Oct. 20 meeting, said Red Deer County's concerns were centred on the cost changes at the plant, as well as the county's tonnage commitment, which Spiller said was around 18,000 tonnes per year.ìThey want to commit 100 per cent of their waste,î Spiller said during the Oct. 24 Innisfail town council meeting. ìThey just don't want to have a number attached to it.îHoar would not confirm the county's proposed commitment.The $120-million plant, which will be built at the Horn Hill Waste Transfer Station east of Penhold, will turn garbage from member municipalities into electricity. The plant will process about 300 tonnes of garbage per day, using the extracted methane gas to produce electricity.Hoar said Plasco will either accept, reject or modify the commission's latest offer, adding he was hopeful the commission would have an answer before its next meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 25.ìWe're hoping sooner rather than later,î he said.The commission includes representatives from Red Deer County, the City of Red Deer, Innisfail, Sylvan Lake, Blackfalds, Bowden, Penhold, Delburne and Elnora.
