Going Green

 

 

                                                Roscommon/Crawford Chapter 

Roscommon County Takes 1^st Step in Going Green

 

Roscommon County took a giant step forward in going green when the Houghton Lake Sewer Authority (HLSA) implemented the use of a large solar array to provide power for its pumps at the Denton Township Wastewater Treatment Irrigation Site. The solar panels began powering the pumps on July 21 at the completion of a 2-year project to study the feasibility of using the sun’s energy to  provide power for the treatment plant pumps used in converting septage into clean water. The new Denton system is the County’s only large-scale commercial solar array in operation, and it is also the first and only use of a solar array anywhere in Michigan dedicated to public septic systems. The use of the solar array will reduce air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions associated with burning fossil fuels to create power as well as reduce operating costs for treating septage.

In the Denton system, septage effluent is treated in a series of lagoons near the solar array, permitting the discharge of clean water that is safely returned to the environment, fueling a natural wetland. Using a solar array to provide power was the product of work by HLSA Superintendent John Hines and the HLSA Board along with suppliers of solar panels. Hines and Denton Township officials report that the solar array is not only good for the environment, it is also expected to save money by reducing the size of payments to Consumers Power. The array provides sufficient power to sell some to Consumers Power during those periods when  power is generated but pumping is not done because of cold weather. The 72 solar panels in each of three rows of panels at the Denton site can generate over 76 Kilowatts to power the Denton treatment plant pumps during the months of April through November while ice free weather is expected. The cost of septage treatment using the solar array is about 1/3^rd  lower than with conventional electrical power purchased from Consumers Energy.

Hines explained that the payback period for the new panels and the associated electrical hardware will be approximately seven years and after that, power from the solar panels will be free. Since the life of the system is expected to be 35 years, the County will have a lengthy period of free power. This translates to a 12% rate of return using conventional economic rules concerning the initial investment and the limited maintenance costs expected.

Roscommon County’s four townships that surround Houghton Lake are Denton, Lake, Markey, and Roscommon (township). Under the provisions of State of Michigan laws, the Houghton Lake Sewer Authority has jurisdiction over wastewater treatment for these townships. The Denton site for water treatment is a 120-acre site that handles 800,000 gallons of wastewater per day during peak summertime periods. The Houghton Lake Sewer Authority is managed by a Board that includes representatives from each of the affected townships. The Board is currently headed by Superintendent John Hines who has 27 years-experience in working at HLSA.

Pending continued success of the Denton operation, this new facility may become a model for other sewer systems around the state who have space available for solar arrays. Hines reports that he has received numerous inquiries from other Sewer Authorities and civic groups in Michigan. He said that he is also considering implementation of a second solar array for another Houghton Lake sewerage facility and he is aware of another proposed array under consideration elsewhere in Roscommon County, also for septage treatment.

The precise amount of air pollution and carbon emissions being eliminated by the new solar facility is not known to Mr. Hines or the solar supplier. Using figures published by the Environmental Protection Agency, I calculated that HLSA will reduce carbon emissions by over 76,000 pounds per year by their pioneering project. Take a deep breath everyone, the air in Roscommon has gotten a bit cleaner and we have taken a small 1^st step forward in the battle to slow down the rate of climate change.

Kudos to John Hines and the folks at HLSA for their pioneering efforts in applying new technology to an old problem of making clean water. Let’s watch to see follow-up on this change at other local agencies of government  who have the authority to implement similar changes that can clean our air and perhaps save a little money in the process. It’s the right thing to do.