When communities and partners need complex infrastructure delivered the right way—on time, responsibly, and with measurable local benefit—there’s a difference between building a project and developing an asset that lasts. Across energy, logistics, reclamation, and redevelopment, Bill Rinaldi’s work demonstrates a consistent capability: identify the opportunity early, assemble the right stakeholders, navigate approvals, and execute at scale while keeping community outcomes at the center.

1) Proven Track Record: The Lackawanna Energy Center

A defining example of Rinaldi’s ability to deliver world-class energy infrastructure is the Lackawanna Energy Center—a $1.5 billion natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant built to meet modern reliability demands with high efficiency and strong environmental performance.

Project highlights

• Capacity: 1,485 megawatts—powering more than 1 million homes
• Technology: Three GE 7HA.02 high-efficiency, air-cooled natural gas combustion turbines
• Efficiency and design: Single-shaft configuration maximizing output and operational efficiency
• Grid flexibility: Designed to provide baseload power while responding quickly to demand shifts—supporting renewable integration

Environmental leadership

• Air-cooled system reducing water intake by approximately 90% compared to water-cooled systems
• LEED Gold-certified operations building
• Rooftop solar array

Economic impact

• More than 1,200 workers at peak construction
• 30 permanent full-time operations positions
• Over $285 million invested in the local economy
• $170 million in wages and benefits for workers
• Over $50 million in revenue for the host community (Borough of Jessup) over the project’s life
• Completed ahead of schedule by at least two months

Rinaldi’s role

Rinaldi acted as the originator and connector—identifying the site and opportunity years before groundbreaking, bringing partners together, navigating regulatory approvals, and ensuring the project delivered community benefit throughout the process.

2) Rail Logistics Mastery: Tunnel Hill Partners

Infrastructure success often depends on logistics—moving materials safely, efficiently, and at scale. As President of Tunnel Hill Partners, Rinaldi built and scaled the largest waste-by-rail company in the United States, developing a hard-to-replicate network of collection and transfer assets in regions facing declining landfill capacity.

Scale and assets

• 2 rail-served Subtitle D landfills in Ohio
• 14 transfer stations (many rail-capable)
• 2 recycling facilities
• 1 beneficial use burial site in Pennsylvania
• Collection operations through City Carting acquisition
• Leadership team with 160+ years of combined industry experience

Successful exit

• Named to Inc. Magazine’s “Entrepreneur Superstars” (2016)
• Acquired by Wheelabrator (2018)
• Subsequently acquired by Macquarie Group (2019) in a $590 million transaction

This experience translates directly to energy and industrial development where rail coordination, bulk transport, site throughput, and community traffic mitigation are critical.

3) Infrastructure for the Marcellus Shale: Water Pipeline Network

Rinaldi anticipated a major bottleneck in Marcellus Shale development: large-scale, reliable water infrastructure. His group created Northeast Marcellus Aqua Midstream—one of the largest water pipeline networks in Pennsylvania—providing several million gallons of water per day to the industry.

What this demonstrates

• Anticipatory thinking: Identifying needs before they constrain development
• Scale execution: Delivering infrastructure sized for industrial demand
• Integration mindset: Understanding energy production requires supporting systems
• Regulatory and regional fluency: Deep knowledge of Pennsylvania’s energy landscape

4) Environmental Remediation and Redevelopment: Hazleton Creek Properties

Many of the best development opportunities come with real complexity—especially legacy industrial land and environmental challenges. Hazleton Creek Properties represents the largest mine reclamation project in Pennsylvania’s history, converting a dangerous, long-abandoned site into future developable land.

The challenge

• 277 acres of abandoned mine lands
• Vertical pits up to 150 feet deep and extensive underground tunnels
• Acid mine drainage contaminating water
• Areas previously used for municipal and industrial waste disposal
• Priority 1 safety hazard designation from PA DEP

The solution and execution

• PA DEP permitting for beneficial use of coal ash, cement kiln dust, lime kiln dust, and dredge material
• Capacity to accept over 10 million cubic yards of residual materials
• Rail infrastructure built with capacity for 80 rail cars
• $250,000 PennDOT grant for rail track construction
• On-site laboratory for continuous groundwater monitoring
• Commitment to transparency through community-facing environmental testing

Results

• Eliminated dangerous high walls and deep strip pits
• Stopped acid mine drainage to surface waters
• Restored creek and wetlands
• Capped old landfills
• Established a pathway to future industrial development and job creation

5) Build-Operate-Exit Success: Envirowaste

In Philadelphia, Rinaldi identified the need for a strategically located, rail-connected waste processing facility and built Envirowaste—a fully permitted solid waste management and resource recovery asset designed for efficient, environmentally responsible operations.

Facility highlights

• 150,000+ tons per year processing capability
• Permitted for 1,000 tons per day of construction and municipal waste
• Automated sorting and recovery system
• LEED-certified facility
• South Philadelphia site with direct Conrail service

Outcome

In 2018, Envirowaste was acquired by Gold Medal Group (backed by Kinderhook Industries), demonstrating Rinaldi’s ability to develop institutional-grade assets that attract serious capital and create long-term strategic value.

6) Federal-Scale Logistics: Fort Mifflin Reclamation

Large-scale infrastructure often requires federal coordination, tight timelines, and exceptional logistics planning. For the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rinaldi supported the design and construction of a new dredge material transfer facility—including new rail tracks and 50-car unit trains—to remove 500,000 cubic yards of dredge material from the Delaware River within 12 months.

Results

• 500,000 cubic yards removed on schedule
• Approximately 10,000 trucks removed from Pennsylvania highways
• Demonstrated capability working with federal agencies and delivering rail-driven solutions

Community Capitalism: The Rinaldi Philosophy

Bill Rinaldi describes his approach as “community capitalism”—bringing real economic, social, and societal benefits to the areas where projects are developed. The pattern is clear across his work: projects are designed not only to function, but to strengthen communities through jobs, tax base growth, responsible environmental practices, and stakeholder trust.

Examples of community benefit in practice

• Lackawanna Energy Center: Major local investment, job creation, host-community revenue, and a high-efficiency design
• Hazleton Creek Properties: Reclaiming dangerous land at no taxpayer cost while creating future economic opportunity
• Tunnel Hill Partners: Community partnerships and visible local investment in host regions
• NEDCO (Northeastern Economic Development Company): Founded in 2002 to support small businesses through SBA 504 lending—nearly 500 loans closed

Conclusion

Across energy generation, rail logistics, pipeline-scale infrastructure, major remediation, and institutional asset development, Bill Rinaldi’s record demonstrates the full developer skill set: originate, structure, permit, build, operate, and deliver outcomes that communities can see and measure. In an era where Pennsylvania’s infrastructure decisions will shape competitiveness for decades, the ability to execute responsibly at scale has never mattered more.