From left: Christopher Moser of SECC, Steve Douglas, Chief Operator, YCWWTP, and York Mayor Charles Robertson Please click on the image above to see a larger version in a new window.

The York City Wastewater Treatment Plant received another round of special awards this fall. One of those awards honors the plant for efficient use of energy needed to operate the plant.

Presented by the Safe Energy Communication Council, the "Power Booster" award recognized the plant for saving more than $130,000 per year through wise use of electrical power. Those savings were made possible by a methane recovery and cogeneration facility designed by Buchart-Horn, Inc.

That B-H designed system captures methane gas from the natural biological digestion of wastewater sludge and uses the captured gas to power large generators that make electricity to operate the plant. The system is capable of harnessing enough power to meet up to 80% of the plant's energy demand. In fact, the system normally provides about 30% if the required plant power. Since 1993, the installation has saved the City of York's taxpayers $655,387.

In addition to the Power Booster Award accepted by Mayor Charles Robertson in September, the York Plant also won the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1999 National Operations and Maintenance Award. That award was presented to Mayor Robertson during the EPA's National Awards event in New Orleans on October 10th.

The plant also received the 1999 Governor's Award from Governor Tom Ridge on November 30th. That award honors the York Plant for "Environmental Excellence."