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PDF versionOGDEN -- A $169,000 grant from Rocky Mountain Power will let the city install a hydroelectric unit at its water-treatment plant.
The grant has been provided through the utility company's Blue Sky renewable energy program.
The city has been working with Gardner Engineering, based in Ogden, for several months to secure the grant.
The hydroelectric unit likely will be installed at the water-treatment plant near Pineview Reservoir next summer following completion of the final design and permitting.
Once installed, water will be used to turn the unit's turbine, generating about 131,400 kilowatts of electricity, which is enough to run the treatment plant, said Richard Brookins, the city's fleet and facilities manager.
The hydroelectric unit will also be used for research and will be viewed by area students during school tours, Brookins said.
"It's good for the environment," he said of the unit. "It's a good training aid and teaching aid."
Power produced by the unit will at least cut in half and possibly eliminate future electricity bills at the water-treatment plant, Mayor Matthew Godfrey said in a prepared statement.
"Thanks to Rocky Mountain Power, this is a huge step forward in the city's movement toward going green with renewable energy."
"It is not only environmentally friendly; at current utility rates, it will mean approximately $10,000 to the city in savings each year."
Check the numbers
The plant can't possibly generate 131,400 kilowatts. That would be approximately enough to power the entire city of Ogden, not just the treatment plant.The correct number is probably $131,400 kilowatt-hours per year. This would be consistent with the $10,000 per year savings, at a rate of 7.6 cents per kilowatt-hour. To convert this to (average) kilowatts, divide by 365 (the number of days in a year) and then by 24 (the number of hours in a day). The answer is exactly 15.But I guess it doesn't sound so great to say the plant generates 15 kilowatts.