Dive Brief:

• Just over two years after it opened, a Fremont, MI food waste-to-energy plant closed, after ceasing activity at a multi-million dollar facility in January. City officials are hopeful the shuttering isn't permanent.
• The Fremont Community Digester cost $22 million to build, part of which was provided through a $12.8 loan from the federal government. It opened in late 2012.
• Operated by Detroit-based Novi Energy, the plant had a deal to sell the power it created to Consumers Energy to provide power for 1,200 homes. Consumers Energy is the company that disconnected the company's power this week for overdue bills.

Dive Insight:

Fremont city manager Todd Blake said a legal dispute over ownership of the facility led to its recent shuttering. “It’s unfortunate they had to do a complete shutdown in order to settle it, but when you have companies where there are struggles over ownership, anything can happen and it’s beyond our control,” Blake told WOOD TV.