FuelCell to provide 1 MW for California wastewater treatment plant
Riverside will own and operate the DFC1500MA at Riverside's Water Quality Control Plant through its Public Works Department and will assume ownership of the unit upon project completion.
Renewable fuel for the DFC1500MA power plant will come from gas generated in the wastewater treatment process. This digester gas until now has been used by three reciprocating engines that power the treatment plant. Fuel cells will convert the digester gas into electricity electrochemically - without combustion - thereby reducing emissions of SO2 and NOx. FuelCell Energy said the system's higher efficiency will result in lower carbon dioxide emissions.
California's Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) is providing $4.5 million for the project through the Southern California Gas Company. The SGIP program was developed to foster the installation of specific renewable and clean generation sources throughout the state, including fuel cell power plants.
Since its inception in 2001, SGIP incentives have been updated and expanded to support the creation of more green energy. Current SGIP funding levels have been extended by the California legislature until January 1, 2012.
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Battery-electric buses hit the roads in Metro Vancouver
VANCOUVER - TransLink's first battery-electric buses are taking to the roads in Metro Vancouver as part of a pilot project to reduce emissions.
The first four zero-emission buses picked up commuters in Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster on Wednesday. Six more are expected to be brought in.
"With so many people taking transit in Vancouver today, electric buses will make a real difference," said Merran Smith, executive director of Clean Energy Canada, a think tank at Simon Fraser University, in a release.
According to TransLink, each bus is expected to reduce 100 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and save $40,000 in fuel costs…