Hennepin Energy Recovery Center

15 photos · 2017–2023

15 photographs tagged Hennepin Energy Recovery Center, 2017–2023.

Shut Down Herc poster in Minneapolis — A protest flyer posted on the Midtown Greenway in Minneapolis calls for the "Shut Down HERC!!" The flyer states that the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) emits mercury, lead, carbon monoxide, and dioxins, which are cancer-causing chemicals that poison the air daily and affect nearby neighborhoods.

A welder works inside a large cylindrical structure during the replacement of a water tank at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. — A welder works inside a large cylindrical structure at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This facility, which began operation in 1989, processes waste to generate electricity for the local grid. The ongoing work involves the replacement of a water tank, a critical component for the plant's cooling and operational systems. The HERC plays a significant role in waste management and energy production for the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Roof of the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center — Inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in downtown Minneapolis. Operated by Hennepin County, the facility began service in 1989 and processes hundreds of thousands of tons of trash each year, burning refuse to generate steam and electricity for the local grid.

HERC Control Room Monitoring, Minneapolis — Operators monitor facility systems from a control room inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in Minneapolis. Wall-mounted screens display live camera feeds from across the plant, including the waste bunker and combustion areas, allowing staff to track material flow and equipment conditions in real time. Control panels and logs are used to manage burn rates, steam production, and electrical output, ensuring stable operation of the waste-to-energy process. Operated by Hennepin County since 1989, the facility relies on centralized monitoring like this to coordinate daily operations and maintain safety across the plant.

HERC Turbine Hall Operations Floor — The turbine hall at the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in Minneapolis houses control panels, steam piping, and generator equipment that convert heat from burned municipal waste into electricity. High-pressure steam is routed from the boilers through insulated lines into turbines, with control systems monitoring output and maintaining stable operation. Overhead cranes and access platforms support maintenance of large components within the hall. In operation since 1989 and run by Hennepin County, the facility integrates waste processing with power generation and district energy service for downtown Minneapolis.

HERC Turbine Generator Hall — A turbine generator housing and connected high-pressure steam line are seen inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in Minneapolis. Steam produced from burning municipal solid waste is directed through insulated piping into turbines like this, where it is converted into electricity for the local grid. The enclosed generator units help reduce noise and protect critical components, while adjacent piping and supports manage the flow and pressure of steam across the system. Operating since 1989 under Hennepin County, the facility integrates waste processing with energy production to serve downtown Minneapolis.

HERC High-Pressure Steam Lines — Inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in downtown Minneapolis. Operated by Hennepin County, the facility began service in 1989 and processes hundreds of thousands of tons of trash each year, burning refuse to generate steam and electricity for the local grid.

HERC Boiler Floor Equipment, Hennepin Minneapolis — Pumps, valves, and piping systems operate on the boiler floor inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in Minneapolis. These systems circulate water and steam through the facility’s boilers, where heat from burning municipal solid waste is captured and converted into usable energy. The resulting steam is distributed to downtown buildings and also used to generate electricity. In service since 1989 and operated by Hennepin County, the plant relies on a network of motors, gauges, and control valves like these to regulate pressure, flow, and temperature across its waste-to-energy process.

HERC Combustion Unit Access Doors, Minneapolis — Maintenance access doors line a combustion unit inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in downtown Minneapolis. These sealed panels provide entry points for inspection and servicing of the high-temperature chambers where municipal solid waste is burned. Operated by Hennepin County since 1989, the facility uses controlled combustion to convert trash into energy, producing steam that is distributed to nearby buildings and used to generate electricity.

Inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), Minneapolis — Inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in downtown Minneapolis. Operated by Hennepin County, the facility began service in 1989 and processes hundreds of thousands of tons of trash each year, burning refuse to generate steam and electricity for the local grid.

Crane inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), Minneapolis — A crane-mounted grapple lifts mixed municipal waste inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in downtown Minneapolis. Operated by Hennepin County, the facility began service in 1989 and processes hundreds of thousands of tons of trash each year, burning refuse to generate steam and electricity for the local grid.

Waste Processing Floor, HERC Minneapolis — A crane-mounted grapple lifts mixed municipal waste inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in downtown Minneapolis. Operated by Hennepin County, the facility began service in 1989 and processes hundreds of thousands of tons of trash each year, burning refuse to generate steam and electricity for the local grid.

Crane on the HERC Waste Processing Floor, Minneapolis — A crane-mounted grapple lifts mixed municipal waste inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in downtown Minneapolis. Operated by Hennepin County, the facility began service in 1989 and processes hundreds of thousands of tons of trash each year, burning refuse to generate steam and electricity for the local grid.

HERC Waste Processing Floor, Minneapolis — A crane-mounted grapple lifts mixed municipal waste inside the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) in downtown Minneapolis. Operated by Hennepin County, the facility began service in 1989 and processes hundreds of thousands of tons of trash each year, burning refuse to generate steam and electricity for the local grid.

HERC Facility and Downtown Minneapolis — The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) sits along 6th Avenue North on the edge of downtown Minneapolis, converting municipal solid waste into electricity and district steam.

Built in Minneapolis

Minneapolis Photographer

An ongoing archive of work.

Facebook Instagram Threads X Bluesky Flickr

© 1996–2026 Chad Davis