Electrifying proposals requested for studying energy technologies at future Brightwater treatment plant

2005 Archived News

King County has joined with education, energy and business groups to request proposals to study the possibility of generating both electricity and public interest from innovative energy technologies at the future Brightwater Treatment Plant.

The study will determine the feasibility of a facility at the plant to test new energy devices that convert methane gas into other forms of energy such as electricity and heat. The study will also determine requirements for an energy-technology demonstration laboratory at the plant for hands-on public awareness and education.

Now seeking proposals for the feasibility study is a partnership of the Friends of the Hidden River, the Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative, King County Wastewater Treatment Division, Snohomish County Public Utility District and Snohomish County Economic Development Council.

Friends of the Hidden River includes educators who have recommended that environmental education be included as part of mitigation for building and operating the Brightwater plant. The energy lab would be part of a proposed community/education center. The Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative is a joint effort of business, government, nonprofit and educational institutions to support development of new energy technologies.

King County is interested in using digester gas from the wastewater treatment process at Brightwater as a fuel source for producing alternative forms of energy such as electricity and hot water. The Brightwater plant could produce an estimated 1.1 megawatts of electricity for use within the plant. The test facility at Brightwater could also provide research for use by other wastewater treatment agencies.

The future Brightwater plant will provide wastewater treatment capacity to serve the growing number of people in south Snohomish County and north King County. Population projections show the new capacity will be needed by 2010 to protect public health, the economy and the environment.

The feasibility study will evaluate the requirements and costs for setting up and operating a test site for new energy technologies, including fuel cells. It would also study the needs for developing and using other energy technologies, such as hydrogen reformation, fueled with methane, a byproduct of the treatment process.

"We're hoping the outcome of this study will be a full-scale project that is replicable at other treatment plants across the Northwest and the country," said Jeff Morris, director of the Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative. "We also hope to promote energy business opportunities in the area through the test site and, eventually, a full-scale alternative energy project."

In addition, the study will evaluate how a lab at the test site could be used to develop educational purposes and public demand for innovative and high-tech energy sources. Neighboring school districts, colleges and communities could visit the lab as part of their environmental science programs.

"We hope the energy lab would create an engaging educational environment that will capture student and public attention while attracting and inviting people to use emerging energy technologies," said Marie Hartford of Friends of the Hidden River. "Other benefits include public exposure and job training in disciplines that develop and use these technologies."

She explained that new energy devices tested at the plant could be displayed in the laboratory. Possibly live data from these devices, information about them, and models of them would also be displayed.

Proposals for the feasibility study are due by Sept. 16, and the study would run through March 2006. For more information about Request for Proposals No. 2231, call contract administration at the Washington Technology Center, 206-616-3098, send an e-mail message, or visit this Web site.

Investing in energy technology is not new to King County's Wastewater Treatment Division. Earlier this year, the county earned a National Achievement Award for excellence in research and technology from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for its Fuel Cell Demonstration Project at the South Treatment Plant in Renton. For more information about generating electricity using methane gas at the Renton plant, visit the project Web site.

King County's Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and water quality by serving 17 cities, 17 local sewer agencies and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Formerly called Metro, the regional public utility has been preventing water pollution for 40 years.