The wastewater infrastructure project, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is expected to help in creating green jobs, boost the local economy, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment.
The town of Fairhaven has received $7.9m as a principle forgiveness loan from ARRA and MA DEP/SRF Green Infrastructure Reserve to implement several renewable energy projects at their wastewater treatment facility (WWTF). The funding will be utilized for renewable, biogas/anaerobic digestion fueled combined heat and power system and three solar photovoltaic rooftop panels.
The town is also working with a private entity to add a wind turbine facility to their renewable energy portfolio.
A large portion of Fairhaven funding is going to the Biogas/Anaerobic Digestion with Combined Heat and Power (Cogeneration) Facility. The facility will generate energy by converting sewerage sludge to biogas, and burning it to create electricity and heat. It saves communities money both by offsetting electricity use and reducing sludge disposal costs.
EPA expects the Green Reserve project to save the town $300,000 per year in electricity costs and offset about 1,800 tons per year of CO2 emissions. The wind turbine project is expected to contribute another $165,000 in electricity savings and offset an additional 6,000 tons of CO2.
Laurie Burt, commissioner of MassDEP, said: ”Fairhaven’s green infrastructure projects have put it on the leading-edge of the Commonwealth’s renewable energy revolution.
“The $7.9m in SRF/ARRA Green Infrastructure funding will cover the cost of installing solar panels and anaerobic digester technology at the treatment plant, saving thousands of dollars in energy costs, reducing the community’s carbon footprint, and putting people back to work.”
Brian Bowcock, chair of Fairhaven Board of Selectmen, said: ”The Town of Fairhaven is excited to receive this federal stimulus money that will in the short term, stimulate the local economy and create new jobs. In the long term this project will improve the town’s infrastructure and save tens of thousands of dollars in waste disposal.”
