By DANIELLE VICKERY, Special to the Times Union First published: Tuesday, July 24, 2007
SCHENECTADY -- City officials plan to use a $1 million state grant for a study to determine whether methane from the decomposition of sewage can be used to power the waste-water treatment plant.
The grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is an incentive to reduce the plant's dependence on electricity and will fund an engineering study by Siemens Building Technologies to determine the best way to capture methane and transform it into usable energy.
Methane is a natural byproduct released when solid waste is decomposed by bacteria in digesters at the plant -- similar to how a stomach reduces solid food. A portion of the gas fuels a boiler that heats the sludge to produce more gas. The excess is burned off, and it is estimated that methane -- a heat-trapping gas with a foul odor -- lingers in the atmosphere for nine to 15 years.
The plant is in the process of adapting the digesters to produce more methane to use as power.
The city had a study conducted several years ago, but results showed that with the quantity of gas produced, a power switch would not be economically beneficial. Now, General Services Commissioner Carl Olsen feels with cost increases in electricity, a conversion to power from methane might be feasible.
Olsen said this study will reveal the possible electric, economic and environmental benefits of powering the plant with methane.
"We're excited to take advantage of this opportunity. If we can improve our electrical efficiency and reduce cost to taxpayers, it's a win-win situation," Olsen said. "This study is to confirm that."
Is this what Mr. Tonko is giving back in his new position? Maybe we can get a cap put on all the legislative buildings, especially when it comes to the county and city, at least, and capture everything that happens at those meetings. Then, we'll have to look at some of the towns and villages to see if a cap on those would significantly help.
Gee Rotterdam can do that too, just put a plastic bubble over the whole town and collect the methane gas from all the septic systems.
Now that is toooo funny!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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