As reported by the Frederick News-Post, a partial resolution of issues between Frederick and Carroll Counties will enable Frederick to reach out to potential partners for its forthcoming waste-to-energy facility. From the online article:

“We have interest from three counties,” said Frederick County Commissioners President Blaine Young. “We haven’t really been able to aggressively pursue that because of the way the contract is written.”

Young confirmed that Prince George’s, Howard and Washington counties have expressed interest.

Carroll County officials have made it known for months that they intend to pursue other trash-disposal alternatives.

“While we understand our obligation as it stands right now, we are interested in Frederick County looking for another partner,” Carroll County Commissioners President Doug Howard said. “We haven’t come to a final decision yet.”

A deal cannot be signed with a new entity before Carroll County decides whether to opt out of the agreement.

The two counties signed a contract in 2009 that required either county to find a replacement should the decision be made to bow out of the project.