OREANDA-NEWS. US waste-to-energy power generator Covanta shut down its seven US wood-fired biomass plants this month because of lower power prices. The company owns five biomass plants in California and two in Maine, with a combined capacity of 110MW.

The company cited the "economics of the energy price environment" as the reason for shutting down the facilities. "Power markets, particularly in the northeast, were under significant pressure in the first quarter, given the mild winter and lower natural gas prices," chief executive Stephen Jones said.

Covanta does not expect any additional revenues from its biomass facilities for the remainder of this year. It is looking at options for the assets, Jones said.

The company operates 40 non-wood waste-to-energy facilities in the US.