Covanta, Delano Inc.

Covanta Delano is a biomass-fired power plant which generates 49.9 megawatts of electricity twenty-four hours a day, enough electricity to power 50,000 homes annually. The plant’s main source of fuel is recycled wood wastes, primarily from agricultural sources.

Farms in Kern and Tulare Counties surrounding Covanta Delano generate over 580,000 tons of woody waste annually, mostly from almond, peach, and nectarine orchards. In the past, most of this material has been burned in the fields. Delano Energy Company utilizes these waste materials in producing clean electricity offering farmers another alternative to open-field burning Equipped with the latest air pollution control technology, Covanta Delano is a major contributor in cleaning the air in California’s Central Valley. In fact, by reducing 96 percent of the pollutants released in open-field burning, local air quality management officials have called Covanta Delano "a stationary air pollution control device."

In addition, Kern County landfills recycle tens of thousands of tons of urban wood waste each month for use at Covanta Delano. This amounts to approximately 40 percent of all urban wood waste generated in the unincorporated county.

Covanta Delano is a proud corporate citizen of Kern County. As one of the city’s largest employers, the plant contributes millions of dollars annually to the local economy in the form of taxes, purchases, and salaries.

For further information on Covanta Delano, please contact the Plant Manager, Doyle Hibler at (661) 792-3067 x-103 or email at doyle.hibler@aes.com

View Covanta, Mendota, Inc.