Kaptur Greenlights Energy Progress By City of Toledo

Over the life of the project, thecogeneration facility is expected to save rate payers a minimum of almost $15million and potentially as much as $40 million. This is based onprojections that the methane gas from the landfill will be available for atleast 20 years and perhaps as many as 35 years. The biogas-generatedelectricity will replace the conventional electricity at the Bay View plantwhich has cost the city an average of $2 million per year over the last severalyears.

"The city and our region can leadthe United Statesin the transition to clean, safe and renewable energy sources," stated Kaptur. "Today's milestone joins others such as the solar energy effortat the 180^th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard, multiplewind energy investigations along the Lake Erie coastline, and extensivealternative energy research at the Universityof Toledo to brand theLake Erie West region as forward-thinking, innovative and committed to forginga sustainable future."

"Today's announcement iswell-timed," continued Kaptur. "Last week, the House passed the EnergyIndependence and Security Act (H.R. 6), containing alternative energyprovisions that I have championed for years including a renewable fuelsstandard, the required incorporation of biofuels into motor fuels, and arequirement for the use of alternative fuels in the federal fleet. Between 2000 and 2006, during President Bush's term, the U.S. increased its importation ofcrude oil and petroleum products by almost 1 billion barrels. Americamust break her dangerous dependence on foreign sources of energy supply."

The cogeneration facility isscheduled to come online in the first quarter of 2009. It will produce6-7 megawatts of energy per day with a maximum capacity of 10 megawatts perday. The city anticipates generating more power than it will need at thetreatment plant and plans to sell that excess power back to the grid wherenegotiations with Toledo Edison should result in that power being available ata better rate for other city operations.

Federal funds were expended onengineering services to design the gas pipeline from the landfill and thecogeneration facility at the waste water treatment plant. Theconstruction of the pipeline and facility will be financed through alow-interest loan to the city through OEPA and the Ohio Water DevelopmentAuthority.