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Covanta Energy and NOAA Join Together With the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to Launch Fishing for Energy Program

Posted on: Tuesday, 5 February 2008, 09:00 CST

Federal, local and private partners gathered today in New Bedford, one of New England's most productive seaports, to launch "Fishing for Energy," an effort to work with coastal communities to reduce the amount of abandoned fishing gear that ends up in the nation's oceans. Covanta Energy (NYSE: CVA), a world leader in the development and operation of large scale Energy-from-Waste and renewable energy projects, is partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Port of New Bedford to remove abandoned gear from the environment.

Abandoned fishing gear poses a threat to public health and the marine environment through the injury and death of marine life, the impact to navigational safety, and adverse effects on shipping and coastal industries that can have serious economic repercussions.

"Today's kick off exemplifies the important role that public and private partnerships play in improving and protecting our nation's most important fishing grounds," William Corso, deputy assistant administrator of NOAA's National Ocean Service. "Marine debris poses a real threat to the environment and we are pleased to be part of the effort to reuse abandoned gear as a source of energy to power the region's homes and businesses."

Covanta will work closely with the New Bedford Harbor Development Commission and the local fishing industry to coordinate the removal of abandoned gear from local coastal waters, as well as retiring gear that is no longer fit for use within a fishery. Once removed from the environment, the gear will be transported to Covanta's Energy-from-Waste facility in Haverhill, Mass. which provides electricity for 40,000 homes. Approximately one ton of derelict marine debris equals enough electricity to power one home for 25 days.

"Today's efforts reflect Covanta's commitment to a safe and healthy environment by turning this abandoned gear into renewable energy," said Derek Porter, Vice President of External Affairs for Covanta Energy. "We are excited to be working with NOAA, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the City of New Bedford to launch this important initiative."

With a fishing fleet of more than 300 vessels, New Bedford Harbor is one of the nation's major fishing ports. According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, the port has ranked first in the U.S. since 2000, based on value of product landed.

"The Fishing for Energy Program provides New Bedford fishermen with an economical and accessible means for disposing old fishing gear that at the same time will foster a cleaner marine environment and generate energy," said Mayor Scott W. Lang of New Bedford. "I thank Covanta, NOAA, and the NFWF for joining together to support New Bedford's vibrant commercial fishing industry with this cutting edge program."

The NOAA Marine Debris Program serves to coordinate, strengthen, and increase the visibility of marine debris issues and efforts within the agency, its partners, and the public. The Program supports activities at both a national and international effort focused on identifying, reducing and preventing debris from entering the marine environment.

"The Fishing for Energy partnership with Covanta and NOAA is a momentous first step in tackling the serious problem of derelict fishing gear on in New England," said Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. "We are very excited that Covanta has taken on the mission of serving the communities in which they operate through environmental protection and stewardship. We look forward to growing this partnership further as it gains momentum and achieves some real measurable success in marine debris prevention and removal."

About Covanta

Covanta Energy is an internationally recognized owner and operator of energy-from-waste and power generation projects. Covanta's energy-from-waste facilities convert municipal solid waste into renewable energy for numerous communities, predominantly in the United States. As a world premier operator of large-scale energy-from-waste facilities, Covanta is proud to offer an environmentally sound solution to communities' solid waste disposal needs. With close to 40 facilities worldwide, Covanta uses municipal solid waste as a fuel to generate clean, renewable energy. Covanta's modern energy-from-waste facilities safely and securely turn 15 million tons of waste into more than 8 million megawatt hours of clean renewable electricity each year and create 10 billion pounds of steam that are sold to a variety of industries. For more information, visit www.covantaenergy.com.

About NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects. For more information, visit: www.noaa.gov

About National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

A nonprofit established by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation sustains, restores and enhances the Nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Through leadership conservation investments with public and private partners, NFWF is dedicated to achieving maximum conservation impact by developing and applying best practices and innovative methods for measurable outcomes. Since its establishment, NFWF has awarded nearly 9,500 grants to over 3,000 organizations in the United States and abroad and leveraged -- with its partners -- more than $400 million in federal funds into more than $1.3 billion for on-the-ground conservation. For more information, visit www.nfwf.org.

Source: Business Wire

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