Join Energy Trust of Oregon’s New Buildings program for a complimentary talk and tour of Gresham’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, which reached its net-zero energy goals in 2015. The plant now generates more energy than it uses, saving the city an estimated $500,000 per year in energy costs, making it the first wastewater treatment plant in the Pacific Northwest to reach energy net-zero status.

The facility receives fats, oils and grease from local food service establishments and recycles the waste, with the city collecting a tipping fee. It also converts biogas into heat and electricity by feeding it into two powerful co-generation engines.

Multiple energy-efficiency investments rounded out the facility’s net-zero efforts. Energy Trust provided long-term technical assistance, project development support and over $1 million in cash incentives. Additional funding was provided by the Oregon Department of Energy. Watch this video to learn more about how the treatment plant worked with Energy Trust.

After the presentation, participants will take a 45-minute guided tour through each step of the treatment process and learn how a solar array and biogas generation allow the plant to achieve net-zero energy use.

Presenters:
Alan Johnston, senior engineer, City of Gresham
Alan has been an engineer with the City of Gresham for 28 years and currently manages the Wastewater Treatment Plant program. He has a Master of Engineering from University of Idaho and a Bachelor of Science in engineering from Oregon State University.

Ronald Gillenardo, operations supervisor, Jacob’s Engineering, Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant
Ron currently serves as the operations supervisor for Jacob’s Engineering, the contract operators of the Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant. He started in the water and wastewater treatment field in 1988, while serving in the Active Duty Air Force. He has worked at municipalities across the country from Ocean City, Maryland, to McMinnville, Oregon, managing wastewater treatment plants.

Lunch: Lunch will be catered by Energy Trust.

Tour: A portion of the event will be walking outside. Long pants and close toed shoes are required for the tour.