Residents who endured a summer of overpowering odor in 2016 may be wondering if they are at the end of their biodigester saga. Online auction site, Biddergy.com, has scheduled a March 13 auction to liquidate the equipment from the former Lowell Energy AD biodigester.
While the biodigester was shut down by city officials in late 2016, creditors seemed poised to attempt a restart last year. However, with the equipment being liquidated, it appears unlikely the facility will be operational again.
In a press release announcing the auction, Biddergy notes, “Previous odor issues are believed to be blamed on design flaws and operator issues. This equipment is all in good working order.”
The equipment may be sold in one of two ways. Buyers can bid on a lot that includes all contents and equipment or, depending on the bid values, the equipment may be sold separately. The starting bid to purchase all equipment as a complete lot is $100,000. Starting bids for individual pieces of equipment run from $50 to $25,000. The auction will take place online at Biddergy.com from 8am-8pm on March 13.
City Manager Mike Burns told Lowell’s First Look that he had been notified a few weeks earlier that the equipment would be liquidated, but the city had not been provided any other information. He stressed the facility was leased so the city retains the property and only the equipment is being sold.
This article has been updated to include comments from City Manager Mike Burns regarding the sale.
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