Plasco Energy Group’s bid to build a waste-to-energy gasification plant in the Ottawa area takes a tantalizing step closer to reality after city council unanimously agrees to allow the project to move forward, with conditions. Before businessman Rod Bryden’s company is allowed to put a spade in the ground, it must first demonstrate that its technology works and meets city environmental approval. The proposed $125-million plant would divert 400 tonnes of non-recyclable household waste from landfills and convert it to gas for powering electrical generators. Plasco stands to earn $8 million annually from the project, while the city would take a 25% cut of revenue above an agreed upon amount. Council’s approval comes three years after it gave Plasco the go ahead to build a $27-million demonstration plant at the city’s landfill on Trail Road. The facility was commissioned in July of last year and began delivering electricity to Hydro Ottawa three months later.