🔒O&G-backed developer seeks declaratory ruling for Plainfield waste-to-energy project

About the Project

A company backed by O&G Industries is seeking state approval for a 45-megawatt trash-to-energy plant in Plainfield, Connecticut. The project, proposed by SMART Technology Systems LLC, has faced over a year of local opposition.

Project Details

• The facility would occupy about 81 acres of O&G’s 506-acre sand and gravel operation between Norwich Road and Black Hill Road.
• It would accept an average of 1,800 tons of municipal solid waste daily, roughly replacing the capacity lost when the Materials Innovation and Recycling Authority (MIRA) closed its Hartford plant in 2022.
• The facility would recover recyclable materials, convert organic waste into renewable natural gas, and process the remaining material through a gasification system to generate electricity for the ISO New England grid.
• The project claims to convert municipal waste into synthetic gas “without the need for incineration” while producing renewable energy.

Background

Connecticut has struggled with municipal waste disposal since MIRA’s Hartford plant closure in 2022. Much of the state’s trash is now hauled to out-of-state landfills, while the four remaining waste-to-energy plants operate near capacity.

Local Opposition and Regulatory Process

• In 2024, O&G sought to rezone the property as an environmental-industrial park, but Plainfield’s Planning and Zoning Commission denied the request. SMART claims the current proposal is smaller as a result.
• The town has intervened in the project’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) permit applications, including an air permit (March 2025) and three solid waste permits (April 2026). DEEP granted intervention in all cases, with reviews pending.
• A public information meeting in May 2025 drew several hundred attendees, with roughly 50 residents voicing opposition.
• SMART filed a petition with the Connecticut Siting Council seeking a declaratory ruling that the project does not require a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need, which would involve a narrower review of compliance with state laws and regulations.

Economic and Environmental Impact

• The privately owned facility could reduce Plainfield’s mill rate by 20% to 25%.
• It would create about 700 peak construction jobs.
• Approximately 115 acres would be preserved as conservation land.

Timeline

• If approved, construction would begin in July 2027 and take about three years.
• Commercial operation is expected to start in early 2031.

Next Steps

The Siting Council must decide whether the project can proceed through the declaratory ruling process or must seek a certificate of environmental compatibility and public need.