A committee representing the solid waste interests of 115 Maine communities plans to buy the closed Coastal Resources of Maine recycling and waste-to-energy plant in Hampden, as no qualified bidders have come forward to take control of the plant. The nonprofit Municipal Review Committee, made up of officials from several municipalities, announced Wednesday that it and the receiver appointed to oversee the bidding process reviewed the financial and technical capabilities of interested buyers and the receiver determined — and the committee agreed — there were none qualified to buy the plant.
“As a result, the receiver informed the court an auction will not be needed,” the committee said Wednesday in an email. “We will now be moving forward on the sale to MRC under the terms of our ‘stalking horse’ bid, with the receiver seeking final approval of the sale from the court with a target to close on or before June 30.”
The committee in March said it planned to buy the plant for $1.5 million if no qualified bidders purchased it before June 30. The committee will be busy finalizing closing documents and reopening plans for the facility and that will include reaching out to multiple stakeholders and potential partners, including operators and financial partners.