AUBURN -- Partnering with a Poughkeepsie firm, the city is another step closer to housing an anaerobic digester.

The Central Hudson Energy Group will fund the project, build, own and operate it.

At a press conference Thursday, C-H President Steve Lant said the company would own the electricity but would sell the power to the city at a discounted rate. However, the details haven't been worked out yet, he said.

In August, the council approved an agreement with the company to design, build, own and operate an electric power generation facility. The city will provide methane gas produced in the landfill and land next to the sewage treatment plant.

Grants paid for the feasibility study in 2004.

Lant said the facility plans to "be online" the end of next year but couldn't give a definitive time for ground breaking or completion

John Montone, chair of the Auburn Municipal Power Agency, suggested the energy could be used in technology park.

Bill Cetti, of ECO Technology Solutions, said he expects the finalized agreement in two weeks between the city and the energy group.

For more, read Friday's Citizen