Covanta, which operates 44 trash-to-energy plants in U.S., withdraws petition seeking renewable energy subsidies for New York state plants amid opposition from environmental groups; no reason given

Tracy McDonald

ALBANY, New York , December 9, 2011 (Associated Press) – Covanta Energy has withdrawn its petition seeking renewable energy subsidies for trash-burning power plants.

The company, based in Morristown, N.J., operates 44 trash-to-energy plants in the United States including seven in New York. It had asked the Public Service Commission to add trash burning to the list of technologies eligible for renewable energy subsidies, but withdrew the petition Thursday.

The New York Public Interest Research Group, Alliance for Clean Energy and other health and environmental groups called the petition withdrawal a "major victory for clean energy."

Dozens of advocacy groups and thousands of people had submitted comments opposing the petition, arguing that garbage incineration isn't clean or renewable energy.

Covanta's letter to the PSC gave no reason for withdrawing the petition.

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