Here’s how much energy Salem’s wastewater plant is creating
The Willow Lake Cogeneration Plant uses by-products of wastewater treatment to create electricity and reduce greenhouse gases. (Courtesy/City of Salem)
The city of Salem is posting daily numbers on electricity production at its new Cogeneration Plant at the Willow Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant. On Thursday, the plant produced 8,578 kilowatt hours.
The plant came online at the end of last year after an $11.2 million construction project. It produces heat and electricity from the by-products of wastewater treatment, or methane biogas.
The city said it significantly reduces the amount of pollution-causing greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere, equivalent to taking 181 cars off the road each year.
According to the city website, the annual electricity production would be enough to power 813 average homes for a year.
-Saphara Harrell
