Industry description

The plant, which cost about 40 million to build, has a potential generating capacity of 15.4 megawatts (MW) of electricity per year and an actual capacity of 14.5 MW.1 It was designed specifically to bum whole scrap tires as its sole fuel. Although tire-derived fuels have been tried on a smaller scale elsewhere in the world, the Modesto Energy Project is apparently the first to operate successfully on a large scale.2 

The location of the Modesto Energy Project is directly adjacent to the country s largest tire pile, which contained at its maximum, somewhere between 30 and 40 million tires. The tires in this pile are piled up to 40 feet high, and initially covered a canyon 1/4 mile wide for about a mile in distance.1 

The technology used for the Modesto Energy Project was developed and licensed by the German company Gummi-Mayer in the late 1970 s. The prototype facility on which Modesto 

Oxford Energy has also announced plans to build the Erie Energy Project, to be located in Lackawanna, New York. This facility is a 30 MW, 10 million tire/yr, plant that is in the last stages of planning for construction. The plant is planned to be constructed in an Economic Development Zone, which gives tax benefits to the company. Power sales will be to New York State Electric and Gas. Construction is anticipated to begin by the late 1991, with operation beginning in 1993. The plant will not be required to obtain a PSD permit, and a draft air permit and draft EIS have been submitted.1 

A fourth facility, the Moapa Energy Project, is planned for construction in Moapa, Nevada, about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The plant would require 15 million tires per year to generate 49 MW per hour, and would sell power to Nevada Power. The environmental impact statement and air emissions permits for this facility have been accepted, and public hearings are upcoming. Construction may begin in 1992, with operation commencing in 1993.1 

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Source From U.S. EPA, Treatability Manual, Volume II Industrial Descriptions, report EPA-600/2-82-001b, U.S. EPA, Washington, DC, September 1981. 

This chapter describes the use of whole tires and TDF in the cement industry in five sections. First, an industry description is provided. Second, the cement production process is described, including traditional fuel use and use of both whole tires and TDF as supplemental fuel. Third, air pollution implications are discussed in detail, including emissions, control techniques, and control effectiveness. Fourth, other environmental and energy impacts are evaluated. Last, cost considerations of tire use are described. 

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