Facility will produce 100% renewable power using unique technology
LOS ANGELES- Today, the E.P.A. joined the Bureau of Reclamation, the California Energy Commission, and Congressman Col. Paul Cook at the ceremonial start of Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority's carbon-neutral energy plan located at their wastewater treatment facility in Victorville, California The facility aims to go off-the-grid, creating energy using tons of waste that would otherwise be sent to landfills.
Carbon neutrality will be the end result of the plant's Omnivore Biogas Renewable Energy Project. The plan will produce 100% renewable power by more efficiently treating both sewage and organic waste, such as food, that would otherwise be disposed of in landfills. Replacing 9 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually and preventing in excess of 1,400 tons of waste from entering landfills, the result is the equivalent to taking in excess of 2,000 passenger cars off the road annually. The facility will be 100% energy neutral by the start of 2015 and could potentially save taxpayers $9 million over 20 years.
Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority, teaming with Anaergia, a clean energy group located in Carlsbad, Calif., retrofitted an out-of-commission anaerobic digester with new and unique technology that boosts its energy development capacity by increasing the amount of organic waste and sludge that can be digested and converted into biogas. The biogas is then turned into electricity to power the plant operations. Several high-energy waste-streams such as fats, oils, and grease (FOG), and food processing wastes are being evaluated for potential introduction into the digester.
"We are pleased that the support of the community and its elected officials has created an opportunity to generate clean renewable power from a waste product," said Logan Olds, VVWRA General Manager. "It demonstrates the value of partnerships between public agencies, private companies and regulating agencies."
"The Victor Valley plant is a great example of how local governments and companies can produce renewable energy in an innovative way to fight climate change," said John Kemmerer, EPA's Associate Water Division Director for the Pacific Southwest region. "If the hundreds of the similar wastewater treatment plants in California achieved carbon neutrality, it would save approximately 1.25 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year, which is equivalent to the electricity used annually by approximately 120,000 homes."
The treatment plant, located at 20111 Shay Rd. in Victorville, Calif., was developed through a $2 million grant from the California Energy Commission as well as $600,000 in backing from Anaergia. In 2012, E.P.A. provided technical assistance during plan development and coordinated an audit with the D.O.E. to identify energy generation and efficiency opportunities. The audit was used to leverage backing for the project.
"The community has responded with overwhelming support, and VVWRA is being contacted regularly to accept new sources of organic waste from the community," said Meganne M. Harvey, plan engineer with Anaergia Incorporated
This week also marks Climate Action Week. Climate change is already impacting every major region of the U.S. and on key sectors of our national economy. Acting to cut carbon pollution means investments in clean energy, creating jobs and leaving a healthier, safer planet for future generations. America generates more renewable energy than ever before, creating tens of thousands of jobs while lowering energy bills for families and businesses and significantly reducing carbon pollution.
For more information on climate change, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/EPAactivities.html
For more information the Omnivore system, please visit: http://vvwra.com/
