April 9, 2015

The Oregon Department of Energy granted the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) a $2 million tax credit through the Energy Incentives Program! 

BES will use that tax credit to offset the cost of a project to convert wastewater biogas into vehicle fuel. 

Biogas is a byproduct of wastewater treatment. Portland City Council recently approved a contract to design a facility at the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant. It converts biogas into compressed natural gas vehicle fuel. 

The process is both economically beneficial and environmentally friendly! It will reduce diesel fuel use and cut greenhouse gas emissions. And, the project will re-use nearly all of the 600 million cubic feet of biogas the treatment plant produces annually!

The tax credit will also reduce construction costs, which will save money for sewer ratepayers. 

BES expects the new facility to be operational by 2017. 

Check out BES’ website to learn more.