The Chatsworth and
Georgian Bluffs biodigester, the first of its kind for a
municipality in Ontario, is now producing gas and the hydro produced
is expected to begin to feed the grid later this week This seems to
be a win - win for local residents, not only does it provide a safe
method of disposal of septage and other wastes but will, through
tippage fees and hydro feedback tariffs, pay for itself and
eventually make some money for the townships. Way to go Councilors,
once again the little guys show how it should be done!
The
Owen Sound Sun Times says:- The organics-to-energy facility
was originally intended to be a solution to septic sludge disposal,
which the province planned to ban from being spread on agricultural
fields. Municipal officials now plan to quickly expand the list of
acceptable waste to ensure a reliable supply of raw material. Fat,
oil and grease from restaurants, leftovers from slaughterhouses and
vegetable and fruit scraps from kitchens are expected to be added to
the list.
Georgian Bluffs council authorized the township
to take out a $1.2-million, 15-year debenture from the Bank of
Montreal to pay for its share of the project's cost. Chatsworth also
secured a $1.2 million loan. Revenue from the biodigester, expected
to be at least $322,000 a year, will be used to pay back the
debenture, township officials say.
Earlier
they reported that :- Chatsworth and partner Georgian Bluffs
will receive two-thirds of the money needed to build a biodigester
for waste disposal. The municipalities are getting $1.66 million of
the $2.5 million needed from through the communities component of the
Canada Builds program.
The other $833,333 will be split equally
between the two neighbouring municipalities. The biodigester will be
built just south and east of Kilsyth, at a Georgian Bluffs-owned
property about four kilometres north of the boundary with Chatsworth.
The location was chosen because Georgian Bluffs had a ready site.
There seems to be a
little confusion as to exactly how much the townships are on the hook
for but either way its a great initiative and may actually help to
reduce our taxes in a few years.
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