Wood waste in Covington, Tenn., used to be a waste stream that incurred hefty landfill and hauling costs for the city of 9,000 residents. That is until the city’s mayor, Dr. David Gordon, put some serious effort into researching energy-from-waste options.
Gordon admits he has a natural curiosity when it comes to the topic of renewable energy. “I tell folks I’m a confirmed nerd,” says Gordon, who is a veterinarian by profession. “I enjoy getting into the technical and scientific part of things.”
The mayor took an interest in biomass gasification about four years ago, after attending a presentation on the topic at an event hosted by the Tennessee Renewable Energy & Economic Development Council (TREEDC). Gordon found the subject of biomass gasification fascinating in its own right. He also thought the technology might be useful in his city.
“I started looking at the process of biomass gasification and thinking of how it might apply to the city of Covington,” Gordon says. Gordon was specifically wondering about a way to decrease or eliminate the city’s monthly cost of around $11,000 to haul and landfill about 360 tons of wood waste and dewatered sewage sludge. Each day the city collects about 10 tons of wood trimmings. The city also must dispose of two tons of dewatered sewage sludge daily from its wastewater treatment plant. “We started looking at a way to eliminate the hauling and landfill costs and at the same time produce a usable commodity or service,” Gordon explains.
In what became a four-year process, the city successfully collaborated with PHG Energy (PHGE), a maker of downdraft gasification systems for biomass based in Nashville, Tenn., and General Electric Co.’s Power & Water Division to produce a new $2.3 million facility that is designed to do what the Mayor hoped. It is also a shining example of a city’s resourcefulness and collaboration that could be repeated elsewhere and for other waste streams.
From Construction & Demolition Recycling: https://www.cdrecycler.com/cdr0314-biomass-energy-covington.aspx