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The New York City Department of Environmental Protection has taken steps to significantly reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Three boilers, an exhaust capture system, and a rooftop solar array were installed at the Port Richmond Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to a DEP press release. These systems are expected to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by more than 28,000 metric tons, which is the equivalent of removing approximately 6,000 cars.
“DEP has long found innovative approaches to improve NYC’s water and environment, and Commissioner Lloyd has come up with another winner,” said Nilda Mesa, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, in the press release.
The Port Richmond Wastewater Treatment Plant is located on Staten Island and provides water to approximately 200,000 residents. On a daily basis, the plant requires enough electricity to clean 60 million gallons of wastewater.
Its original system ran solely on large amount of heating oil, but the new boilers use biogas, a byproduct of plant’s treatment process.
The solar array is also designed to help reduce emissions and is expected to provide 10 percent of the plant’s power. The new system was built through a partnership with Con Edison Solutions, which will maintain ownership of the system while the city purchases the electricity. Michael N. Perna of ConEdison Solutions told the DEP that this partnership contributed to the growing effort of private and public entities to switch to renewable energy.
“With these significant improvements at the Port Richmond Wastewater Treatment Plant, DEP is setting an outstanding example for other facilities throughout the region,” Perna said.
These installations come as part of the DEP’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent by 2050. As part of this effort, the DEP is also looking to retrofit all of the city’s public buildings.
-by Connie Lee