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In keeping with MN State Statutes 115A.02 which is to improve upon solid waste management, Sher- <br />burne County, along with Anoka County, Hennepin County and Tri- County provided for the retrofitting of <br />the United Power Association's Elk River Station (know today as Great River Energy's Energy Recovery Fa- <br />cility) and the construction of Northern States Power, Elk River Resource Recovery Facility (known today as <br />Great River Energy's Resource Processing Plant). Several agreements were put into place to ensure, among <br />other requirements, that consistent delivery of MSW from member counties was achieved and that certain <br />operational standards were met on part of NSP; and, in August of 1989, with everything in place the first <br />tons of MSW were delivered for processing. <br />Resulting from that earlier agreement that ended August, 2009 were following achievements: <br />• 34 million cubic yards of MSW processed; enough to fill the Metrodome 33 times. <br />• 4.1 million tons of coal displaced, further reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and reducing our car- <br />bon footprint. <br />• 3.9 Million Megawatts of electricity generated; enough to supply 30,000 homes per year. <br />Upon completion of the 2009 agreement, Sherburne County and GRE negotiated a new processing <br />agreement that phases out the need for hauler subsidies. The earlier agreement necessitated that the County <br />subsidize the tipping fee to ensure the continuous supply of MSW by our waste haulers. The County Board <br />believes that it is in the best interests of its citizens that GRE is able to compete in an open market, free of <br />County subsidies. <br />Today, processing continues under the ownership and management of Great River Energy and without <br />the need for any County subsidies. Several improvements have been made to increase the overall operational <br />standards thereby further reducing the number of tons landfilled and ensuring continued efficient energy re- <br />covert' from our MSW that produce. <br />The County's overall solid waste management program emphasizes the "Three R's ": reduce, reuse, and <br />recycle; and, although an impressive amount of recycling is achieved, the need for processing remains as im- <br />portant today as did in 1989. <br />Elk River Resource Recovery Facility <br />"20 Years of Mokin£r Light of Ggr&Oge° <br />August 19th, 1989 to August 19th, 2A09 <br />Can��neinurw!lo�y 20 years afsu —f l ponnerrtiliv In Nv pr i_ f ••n•• +••-• /+"•+•riryau! s", wu _ <br />Y otnl fl _sw ilereiued: 9,43 7, 268 tuns' <br />Tota1 M5W P--di 7,693,130 tons <br />Tntal Ref ,— rJe —d Fuel P—duc-ed. ti,41T,000 tons <br />• Total Coai £315pinced' 4- I miliinn runs <br />Tntnl Flertririty G—rated: 3.'>- Milli— Mef4a Watts <br />(enough electricity to supply 30,0DO h— per year) <br />31 <br />PARTNER5: <br />Shrrhurne Cnunty <br />Tri - County (Stearns, Benton, Sher4urnr <br />Cnunties) <br />Rnako County <br />Hennepin c..—ty <br />RRT's Elk River Resource Recovery Facility <br />Great River Energy <br />X-1 Fncryy <br />