The Village of Ridgewood’s sustainable energy project moving forward
Ridgewood NJ , The Village of Ridgewood’s sustainable energy project is proceeding along nicely. Solar panels at the main Firehouse, the EMS Building, and at the Water Pollution Control Facility have been activated and are producing electricity for the Village to use. We anticipate the solar panels on Village Hall will be activated in the next few weeks.
The biogas fueled engine has been delivered to the Village’s Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF). The engine and it’s controls are being installed. We anticipate the engine will be ready to start testing with the biogas from the Village’s anaerobic sewer sludge digesters to produce electricity by the end of April 2013. Biogas is basically methane, the same product PSE&G provides to residents to heat their homes.
what about the smell of fresh poop.
I wonder what the cost for these units are compared to the anticipated savings and the payback period.
Without “subsidies”, there has never been a project like this that has been able to stand on its own economic merit. That is why solar companies are going out of business.
I am all for sustainability and alternative energy. But, let’s not kid ourselves that covering our roof tops in solar panels and biofuels are the answer. These are “feel good” pacifiers for the Greenpeace crowd, not economically justifiable solutions.
This seems one of the things Village has been doing right lately (but sure wish it did more things right). It’s a public private partnership.
Some details here: https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/engineering/2012PRJTVentureWPCF.pdf
Rwd Water should be restructured into something like that – or perhaps sold entirely (though Village could retain a stake if so). Companies like United Water and Aqua America offer a variety of ways to partner — operating only, operation and renew infrastructure, billing and collection, or outright sale. Lots of possibilities.
Total waste of taxpayer money supported by dubious accounting wrapped in feel good marketing.
RW residents will lap it up.