NYC looking at sewage treatment as source of renewable energy

I think it's incredible that New York City is thinking of more ways to make money out of our wastewater treatment by-products. This type of local innovation that helps the country take bigger strides towards clean(er)* energy.

Think about what's going on here: NYC collects all of our wastewater (via combined sewer and storm water system); filters out the organic material; cleans the water before sending it into the environment; and will now be selling energy (in the form of natural gas) in the open-market.

"Through a partnership with National Grid that is already in the works, officials said, the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Brooklyn is expected to add enough methane gas to the city’s natural gas network next year to heat 2,500 homes." 

It's not like the City is new to this industry; it already sells "biosolids,"the end-product of dried sewer sludge, in the open market.

Hey, way to make the most of the situation, New York.

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*Clean energy from wastewater. The irony makes me laugh.

The Environmental Symposium Series: Highlighting U.S.-Israel Research & Development Cooperation in Green Technology

The Environmental Symposium Series: Highlighting U.S.-Israel Research & Development Cooperation in Green Technology

December 15, 2010 (4:00 pm)
Embassy of Israel, Washington, D.C.

The Embassy of Israel, the U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Foundation, and ZAG/S&W, an Israeli-U.S. law firm, have organized this third Environmental Symposium on the theme of U.S.-Israel cooperation in the development of clean energy technology and renewable energy sources. The program panelists will offer a variety of perspectives, including an executive of a GreenTech Incubator that is cultivating the development of Israeli technologies in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a State of Israel Economic Affairs Minister promoting trade and R&D cooperation, and a U.S. Department of Energy representative who oversees bi-national programs to facilitate the teaming of Israeli and U.S. companies on clean energy technology R&D projects.

Panel speakers include:

• Assaf Vitman, Minister for Economic Affairs, Israel Ministry of Finance
• David Lohr, Executive Director, Dominion Resources GreenTech Incubator
• U.S. Department of Energy Representative, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Division

Moderator:

• Jeffrey M. Karp, Partner and Co-Leader of Climate-Related Business and Technology Practice, ZAG/S&W

This seminar is complimentary. Registration with full name and date of birth is required. To RSVP, please email the U.S.-Israel Science & Technology Foundation at eve@usistf.org. A photo ID is required to enter the Embassy. To speed the security process, bags and laptops are discouraged.