Renewable Energy Project Launched

Local officials and business leaders gathered on October 1  to dedicate a new steam line between the Wheelabrator Westchester waste-to-energy plant and White Plains Linen’s neighboring commercial laundry.

Steam from the Wheelabrator Westchester plant is being used to power White Plain Linen’s laundry equipment and room heating systems, reducing the facility’s natural gas consumption by 90 percent.

This steep reduction in the laundry’s natural gas usage eliminates 4,775 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, equivalent to taking 995 passenger vehicles off the road.

Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster presented the companies with a proclamation commending their efforts to foster the use of clean, renewable power in the region.

“For nearly 30 years, Wheelabrator Westchester has been converting post-recycled waste into a clean, renewable source of electricity for the region,” said Mark Weidman, president of Wheelabrator Technologies. “This new partnership with White Plains Linen expands the use of renewable energy and further reduces our dependence on fossil fuels. The reliable delivery of clean energy such as steam to support local industry and economic growth is a business solution we hope to provide to additional customers in the future.”

“This partnership with Wheelabrator Westchester makes White Plains Linen an industry leader in the use of eco-friendly, alternative energy,” said Bruce Botchman, president of White Plains Linen. “By practically eliminating the use of fossil fuels in our laundry operations, we are helping to clean the air, protect the environment and preserve natural resources for future generations. We are proud to make this green investment in our business and in our host community of Peekskill.”

"Since 2011, the City of Peekskill has been working with the largest businesses in our industrial district to explore energy-reduction collaborations," said City of Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster. "White Plains Linen and Wheelabrator Westchester are part of that initiative, and today we are pleased to celebrate the exciting new partnership they have achieved. This steam line demonstrates not only the innovation happening in Peekskill, but the opportunities for new business development."

White Plains Linen is Peekskill’s largest employer and has made a multimillion dollar investment in building a state-of-the-art, green laundry operation to serve the tri-state area’s restaurant, catering and hospitality industries.  In addition to the steam power project, the company recovers rainwater and recycles filtered rinse water for use in its laundry operations, and has installed more energy efficient lighting throughout its facility.

Designed, constructed and operated by Wheelabrator Technologies, the Wheelabrator Westchester plant processes up to 2,250 tons per day of municipal solid waste.  Inside the plant, waste is transferred to utility-type boilers that recover thermal energy in the form of high pressure steam, which is converted to electrical power by a turbine.  The plant generates 60,000 kilowatts of electricity — enough to power 88,000 New York homes.