Enter the city of Independence’s latest million-dollar baby.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, who says his top priority as governor remains moving the state’s economy forward, toured Independence’s Rock Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Monday afternoon and announced a $1 million grant aimed at enhancing the 32-year-old plant’s energy efficiency.
With new equipment, the project will replace an older mechanical process to aerate – or expose to the air – the water. The new automated system that will adjust itself to minimal electrical use, cutting energy costs for taxpayers, Nixon said.
During secondary treatment at the wastewater facility, settled solids are returned to aeration basins to allow for ideal biological growth before final disposal. (Visit the city of Independence’s Web site at ci.independence.mo.us for more information on the wastewater treatment process.)
“This shows that energy-efficient measures can make a real difference for taxpayers by stretching every penny further and running the government more like people run their own households,” Nixon said.
Construction plans will be finalized by the end of May, with a completion date of between 12 to 14 months from now, said Rob Patten, the city’s Water Pollution Control Department assistant director and a 30-year city employee. The project will create about three full-time jobs, according to the state.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources administered the Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant program, including the $1 million that Independence received. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, more commonly known as the stimulus package, funded the block grant program.
Nixon credited the leadership of City Manager Robert Heacock, Mayor Don Reimal and other city of Independence personnel, saying that these were competitive grants and that the state had to make “extremely tough decisions” on which projects would receive stimulus dollars.
“Water here will still get treated with the same high standards,” Nixon said. According to the city of Independence, the finished product will result in an annual energy cost savings of $147,647. “It will just cost taxpayers less money to treat it.”
The upgrade also will increase the plant’s capacity, putting off the need for a costly wastewater treatment expansion during tough economic times, Nixon said.
“Saving energy isn’t just good for the environment; it’s good for our economy,” Nixon said. “Every day, we’re seeing more signs that Missouri is moving forward. Investing in solid, strategic projects like this one is how we keep that momentum going and keep our economy moving forward at the same time.”
