Sewer authority discusses alternative energy sources

By Domenick Moore (Staff Writer domenick_m@newsitem.com)
Published: May 13, 2010

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WEIGH SCALES - Alternative energy sources could help cut power costs at the Shamokin-Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority once the new system goes online.

Currently, the authority pays $18,000 monthly buying electricity wholesale from PPL, according to President Phil Zalar. That number is expected to increase to $50,000 a month once the authority's $40 million wastewater plant upgrade is complete.

That's why the authority should investigate alternative energy sources, according to member Brian Jeremiah.

Wind is out because of geography, Jeremiah noted, but solar energy isn't. Harnessing the power of the sun has advanced to the point where it could feasibly reduce energy costs considerably. And there are grants available that would allow for a dollar to dollar match.

Even if it cost an additional $1 million to install a photovoltaic system, it would pay for itself in a couple of years, Jeremiah said.

Also, the authority will be looking into keeping several contractors on hand in case Doli Contractors, of Chalfont, falls behind in its responsibilities during phase I of the sewer separation project. According to authority members, Doli has been lackadaisical in its handling of temporary restoration of residents' yards and township streets.

In fact, according to the authority, Doli's main team has been temporarily pulled off the project and sent to Berwick to handle a multi-million job in Berwick.

Zalar said Doli won't be seeing money for work it's not doing, and recommended that other contractors be used if restoration work isn't getting done.

Jeremiah cautioned the board should "tread lightly. If (Doli) is required to do it in the specifications (of the project), then we should have contractors on hand" to handle restoration.

The board also decided not to haul wastewater from Arcos in Mount Carmel any more. According to Daniel Weaver, it's no longer cost effective since the authority got rid of its truck capable of handling the loads.

"(Arcos) might have one load a week," Weaver added, or sometimes nothing for a month.

In light of all the testing that the Environmental Protection Agency requires the authority to perform on the water during treatment, it's just not worth the cost, Weaver said.

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1 posted comments

Can't they burn the Methane by product or sewer sludge they produce or even the garbage form the city. T am sure they could even use Shamokin Creek as a hydro powere source. It is no good for anything else
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DML,  05/13/10 6:26