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The fate of Frederick County's incinerator may well rest in the hands of Carroll County and its new board of commissioners that will take office after the Nov. 2 general election.

The future of the incinerator, or what some people call a "waste-to-energy facility" because it burns trash to produce electricity, is uncertain since at least 21 of 28 candidates running for Carroll County commissioner have said they oppose the project, either in response to questions from The Gazette or on Waste Not Frederick's website.

Of the 28 candidates contacted by The Gazette, 15 responded by deadline, and 13 said they would pull out of the joint partnership with Frederick County because of the costs to Carroll County taxpayers.

"I am against the incinerator project at this time," said Tina Mawhinney of Westminster, a Democratic candidate for Carroll commissioner, in an e-mail. "I think the cost is too enormous for Carroll County to consider spending in these tough economic times. The incinerators are too costly and not efficient. I think we should examine other options."

Republican Christopher Eric Bouchat of Woodbine agrees.

"Regardless of whether one is for or against the concept of waste-to-energy, Carroll County does not have the finances to produce the project," said Bouchat, in an e-mail.

Republican Hank Martin of New Windsor is also against the project. "I am against the incinerator due to the fact that nobody can seem to give a realistic number or numbers that can be verified," he said in an e-mail. "It's a very expensive project."

Martin said he would rather look into more expansive composting and recycling facilities before attempting the incinerator.

The project is a partnership between Frederick and Carroll counties, and would cost an estimated $527 million to build. Frederick's share is $316 million (about 60 percent) and Carroll would pick up the remainder. The incinerator would be big enough to burn 1,500 tons of trash per day, and is expected to open by 2015.

In 2009, Carroll and Frederick County signed an eight-page agreement outlining several conditions, including what would happen if either county backed out of the project.

The agreement was signed by both counties and the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, an independent state agency that helps counties dispose of trash. Frederick and Carroll counties are both members of the authority.

Under the proposal, Wheelabrator, the New Hampshire-based company that will build the incinerator, will spend up to $3 million for the design and permitting stages of the incinerator.

In the event the new board of Carroll County commissioners vote to back out of the project, the county will be responsible for paying any costs to date, up to $3 million, said Michael Marschner, director of Frederick County's division of Utilities and Solid Waste Management.

At this point, roughly $1 million has been spent on permitting, Marschner said. Total permitting for the project is expected to run between $5 million and $7 million.

To avoid paying any costs, Carroll County must solicit another county in the state to partner with Frederick. Frederick County must approve the new partner county for the incinerator to move forward, Marschner said.

Already, both Washington and Howard counties are expressing interest in bringing their trash to Frederick.

"We certainly would be interested," said Greg Murray, administrator for Washington County. "We've formally made it known we would be interested. It would be feasible for us."

James Irvin, director of Public Works for Howard County, said Howard ships its waste to the Annapolis Junction Transfer Station in Anne Arundel County. That contract agreement expires in 2013.

"When the time is up, it would certainly make sense to look at Frederick County," Irvin said. "If that's possible, we would be interested."

Marschner said no matter what Carroll County officials decide, Frederick County will continue to move forward with building the incinerator at the McKinney Industrial Center off Md. Route 85, south of the City of Frederick, near the county's wastewater treatment plant.

"We have the expectation to continue to pursue the project," he said. "I continue to appreciate some who say ‘it is a waste of time.' I just hope they [Carroll commissioners] read all the materials before making a rash decision."

The incinerator project could also be a bust in Frederick County, depending on the outcome of the election. Of the 19 candidates running for commissioner in Frederick County, eight are against the incinerator.

If three of the eight are elected to the five-member board, they have the needed votes to the kill the project.

Commissioner Kai J. Hagen (D), who is running for re-election, hopes that will happen.

"If they back out and we back, then the whole idea is shelved," said Hagen, the lone commissioner on the current board that is against the incinerator.

sgreenfield@gazette.net

Of the 19 candidates running for Frederick County commissioner, eight have stated they oppose the incinerator: Democrats Ellis Burruss, Kai J. Hagen, Linda Norris, Jerry Trout and Janice Wiles; and Republicans Robert Craig, Elaine Kessinger and Bob White.

Of the 28 candidates running for Carroll County commissioner, 21 oppose the incinerator: Democrats Tina Mawhinney, Michele W. Johnson and Hugh M. McLaurin; and Republicans Michael T. Blair, Ron Buczkowski, Robin Bartlett Frazier, Vincent C. Pacelli, Brian K. DiMaggio, Haven Shoemaker, Julia Walsh Gouge, Michelle Jefferson, Gary W. Johnson, Mary Kowalski, Doug Mathias, Christopher Eric Bouchat, David Jones, Perry Leroy Jones Jr., Hank Martin, Richard S. Rothschild, Doug Howard and Marcel van Rossum.

Republican candidates George Butler and Steve Reynolds did not respond.

Source: Candidates and www.wastenot

frederick.org/2010-candidate-statements