MWMC Celebrates Launch of Renewable Natural Gas Project with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
The Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission celebrated the launch of our new Renewable Natural Gas project with a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, March 30.
The new facilities enable the MWMC to purify biogas, a byproduct of the wastewater treatment process, and turn it into renewable natural gas that is injected into NW Natural’s system. In 2021, construction of biogas purification facilities on the MWMC’s Wastewater Treatment Plant grounds was completed, along with NW Natural’s receipt point facility. The MWMC first injected gas into the NW Natural system in November 2021, becoming the first public agency in Oregon do so.
“This project and the partnerships associated with it have been years in the making,” MWMC Executive Officer Matt Stouder said. “Our mission at the MWMC is to protect the community’s health and the environment by providing high quality wastewater services in partnership with Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County. Our vision is to be recognized as a leader in protecting water quality through sustainable and fiscally responsible practices, and this project sits squarely in line with that mission and vision.”
Biogas is a byproduct of the anaerobic digestion process, which treats and stabilizes solids at the MWMC’s Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Biogas is comprised primarily of methane and carbon dioxide. The new equipment installed as part of this project “scrubs” the biogas to strip it of carbon dioxide and other contaminants, resulting in pure methane/natural gas.
“Over the course of the past 38 years that our wastewater treatment plant has been fully operational and my 38+ years with the City of Eugene, the main service that we provide to the community in producing clean water hasn’t changed,” Wastewater Division Director Dave Breitenstein said. “However, there have been many advancements in technology in the wastewater industry. It’s good to see some forward-thinking and sustainable projects being implemented like the Renewable Natural Gas facility to maximize resource recovery and minimize the impacts on our environment.”
This new project will allow the majority of biogas the MWMC produces to be converted into renewable natural gas and used beneficially. Renewable natural gas can help offset dirtier fossil fuels, resulting in air quality benefits and emissions reductions. Previously, the MWMC utilized about 60% of its biogas to power the treatment plant, and the remaining 40% was flared to the atmosphere. This project will enable us to minimize flaring and convert nearly all the biogas to clean energy.
To learn more about the project, visit mwmcpartners.org/capital-improvements/rng. To watch the full ribbon-cutting ceremony, visit https://youtu.be/9RbuSz9MwQ8.
What: Launch of new Renewable Natural Gas project
Who: Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission, in partnership with NW Natural, Kennedy Jenks, and DSL Builders
When: The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Wednesday, March 30. Renewable Natural Gas was first injected into the gas grid in November 2021.
Where: MWMC Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, 410 River Avenue, Eugene
Additional Information: Mark Van Eeckhout, Civil Engineer and Project Manager, at 541.682.8683 or mvaneeckhout@springfield-or.gov
Visuals: High resolutions photos and video, including soundbites from the ribbon-cutting ceremony, are available by request. Contact Communications Coordinator April Miller at 541.726.3684 or anmiller@springfield-or.gov for more information.MWMC Background: The mission of the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission is to protect the community’s health and the environment by providing high-quality wastewater services to the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area in partnership with Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County. Local representatives from each of the regional partners – Lane County, City of Springfield, and City of Eugene – serve on the Commission. Learn more at mwmcpartners.org.
