ADECA partners with ADEM for project
MONTGOMERY– A $124,392 grant awarded by Gov. Robert Bentley to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management will help Alabama municipalities save money by reducing energy costs in their wastewater treatment plants.
ADEM will partner with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for the Alabama portion of the project. Alabama also is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the University of Memphis on the project. The grant will enable these partners to visit at least 12 wastewater treatment plants in Alabama over the next two years to assess ways to cut energy costs, save money and operate more efficiently.
“Finding ways to cut energy costs lead to money savings whether you are a government, a business or a homeowner,” Bentley said. “I am pleased to support this partnership to help wastewater treatment plants operate more efficiently and help our municipal governments identify cost-saving opportunities.”
The team will include representatives from ADECA, ADEM, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Dr. Larry W. Moore, a professor of environmental engineering at the University of Memphis. They will tour the facilities and advise the operators and city officials of ways to make cost-saving improvements and how those savings can be used for upgrades to help save even more in subsequent years. Most recommendations are based in how the plant operates, meaning the savings can be achieved without a monetary investment.
Moore, a specialist in biological wastewater treatment, has been a professor at the university since 1983. According to his biography, he has conducted multiple wastewater treatment studies for cities and industries, and his recommendations have helped save thousands of dollars in operating costs.
ADECA is administering the grant from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. ADECA administers a wide range of grant programs that support law enforcement, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation.
“As a former mayor, I understand the challenges local leaders face when prioritizing limited budgets to cover essential services” ADECA Director Jim Byard Jr. said. “ADECA is honored to partner with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to help cities across Alabama save money in operating its wastewater treatment plants, which will help free up additional funds for other important services.”
Bentley notified ADEM Director Lance LeFleur that the grant had been approved.
“We are happy to partner with ADECA to reduce energy consumption at wastewater treatment plants,” LeFleur said. “Reduced energy use by wastewater utilities also yields both lower greenhouse gas emissions by energy service companies and a lower amount of nutrients being discharged to Alabama waterways.”
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Contact: Josh Carples; Mike Presley