20070906 Bethesda firm touting benefits of an incinerator by Sherry Greenfield

Bethesda firm touting benefits of an incinerator by Sherry Greenfield

Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007

Bethesda firm touting benefits of an incinerator

by Sherry Greenfield | Staff Writer

A political consulting and market research firm in Bethesda is contacting media in Frederick County to tout the benefits of incinerators.

Bill Holleran, vice president of Potomac Incorporated, called The Gazette last week to offer its services in the newspaper’s reporting of a proposed jointly built trash incinerator for Frederick and Carroll counties.

He wanted to talk about the positive attributes of the Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility in Dickerson, which is similar to what Frederick and Carroll counties are considering building. The firm’s president, Keith Haller, confirmed that Covanta Energy, which built and operates the Montgomery County incinerator, is a client, but would not say specifically if Covanta paid Potomac Incorporated to call media in Frederick County.

Covanta Energy has placed a bid to build a similar incinerator for Frederick and Carroll counties.

[…]

Frederick County officials are looking into building an incinerator that burns trash and turns it into fuel to generate electricity that could be sold to an electric company, and turned to Praisner to learn about Montgomery’s experience in building one. Michael Marschner, director of Frederick County’s Utilities and Solid Waste Management, said Tuesday the county did not hire Potomac Incorporated to educate residents on the benefits of incinerators.

‘‘They are not working for Frederick County,” Marschner said. ‘‘I don’t think we need a public relations person. I think we need education.”

Marschner confirmed that Conventa is one of two waste management companies that bid for the job of building a joint incinerator for both Frederick and Carroll counties, a Frederick plant only, or a Carroll plant only.

The other company is Wheelabrator Technologies of Houston, Texas.

[…]

‘‘We do not need a public relations firm,” said Robin B. Davidov, executive director of the authority. ‘‘I can do that myself.”

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