All the pieces seem to be coming together for Harrisburg to sell the infamous incinerator to Lancaster County. In fact, it could happen in the next few months.
This has been in the works for two years now. When and if the deal goes through, it would be much needed money for Harrisburg to start paying down its debt. But as of now, nothing is final.
“There’s too much money on it. That’s the problem. But that’s a financial problem,” commented Lancaster Authority CEO James Warner. “Not an operating problem. And the facility itself is performing the function it was intended to perform.”
That is why the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority wants to buy the debt-ridden Harrisburg incinerator. Lancaster County’s trash to steam facility is nearly full and Harrisburg’s would provide much needed capacity.
LCSWMA’s offer on the incinerator has not been made public and won’t be until a final deal is made. The Harrisburg Receiver is still negotiating with creditors and the city to reach an agreement where all parties agree.
The hope is between the sale of the incinerator and other city assets combined with creditor concessions, Harrisburg can erase the $300-plus million in debt it owns on the incinerator. And Lancaster can start using the facility to burn trash and make money.
“Right now there’s been tremendous progress made, very positive, within the last four to five weeks,” Warner told us. ”So we’re hoping maybe in the next 60 days we can have an agreement signed.”
Before approval of any of this can happen, Harrisburg’s Receiver and the courts must approve it. But the Receiver’s office told us Thursday that they are optimistic.
This has been in the works for two years now. When and if the deal goes through, it would be much needed money for Harrisburg to start paying down its debt. But as of now, nothing is final.
“There’s too much money on it. That’s the problem. But that’s a financial problem,” commented Lancaster Authority CEO James Warner. “Not an operating problem. And the facility itself is performing the function it was intended to perform.”
That is why the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority wants to buy the debt-ridden Harrisburg incinerator. Lancaster County’s trash to steam facility is nearly full and Harrisburg’s would provide much needed capacity.
LCSWMA’s offer on the incinerator has not been made public and won’t be until a final deal is made. The Harrisburg Receiver is still negotiating with creditors and the city to reach an agreement where all parties agree.
The hope is between the sale of the incinerator and other city assets combined with creditor concessions, Harrisburg can erase the $300-plus million in debt it owns on the incinerator. And Lancaster can start using the facility to burn trash and make money.
“Right now there’s been tremendous progress made, very positive, within the last four to five weeks,” Warner told us. ”So we’re hoping maybe in the next 60 days we can have an agreement signed.”
Before approval of any of this can happen, Harrisburg’s Receiver and the courts must approve it. But the Receiver’s office told us Thursday that they are optimistic.