Maine DEP Commissioner To Help Break Ground On $14.7 Million Wastewater Treatment, Energy Recovery Project in L-A

November 7, 2011

Contact: Samantha DePoy-Warren, Maine DEP Spokesperson samantha.depoy-warren@maine.gov / 287-5842

-The anaerobic digestion system will create/sustain more than 200 construction jobs and is expected to reduce the authority?s energy use by half-

LEWISTON ? The Commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection will help representatives of the Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority break ground Thursday on an innovative $14.7 million improvement to the Twin Cities? wastewater treatment facility.

The integration of an anaerobic sludge digester and energy recovery system that produces electricity from digested gases is expected to reduce the authority?s purchase of power by half and cut down carbon monoxide emissions by 80 percent.

Construction of the shovel-ready project will create and sustain more than 200 short-term jobs and was made possible largely with a loan from the DEP-administered Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which also provided nearly a $1 million in loan principal forgiveness.

The project is the first of its kind in Maine, and will result in no rate increase to Lewiston and Auburn residents.

At the groundbreaking, DEP Commissioner Pattie Aho, LAWPCA Board Chairman Phil Nadeau and mayors from both Lewiston and Auburn will speak about the project and its environmental and economic benefits to the communities and the state.

WHO: Maine Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Pattie Aho and department staff, Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority Board Chairman Phil Nadeau and Superintendent Mac Richardson, Lewiston Mayor Larry Gilbert, Auburn Mayor Richard Gleason and other local officials including representatives of Maine?s congressional delegation

WHAT: LAWPCA anaerobic digestion groundbreaking ceremony

WHERE: LAWPCA treatment plant at 535 Lincoln Street in Lewiston

WHEN: 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10

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