Southern Wisconsin Times

The City of Janesville plans to invest $50,000 into a new 200kW microturbine, replacing the current 200kW microturbine experiencing operational issues. The new microturbine will produce 30-35% of the total energy used at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The total cost of the microturbine is $600,000. However, with contributions from various sources—the Department of Energy IAC grant providing $300,000, the IRS Investment Tax Credit offering $240,000, and Vergent contributing $10,000 for the trade-in—the city only needs to pay $50,000.

The microturbine operates on methane gas, a by-product of the plant's anaerobic digestion process. This allows it to produce electricity and reduce electricity bills. Additionally, heat captured from the microturbine's exhaust is used to heat water for the plant digesters, reducing natural gas consumption.

This investment aligns with Janesville's sustainability goals by decreasing energy consumption, using renewable energy sources, and enhancing resource efficiency.

For more information, contact the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant at (608) 755-3120.